Treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism : an update of the evidence and the new Rapid Recommendations.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is frequent and its treatment by thyroid hormones is debated. Current guidelines tend to recommend a treatment for symptomatic adults or for thyrotropin (TSH) levels > 10 mIU/l. Nevertheless, new evidence from systematic review, -including 21 trials and 2192 participants, demonstrated that thyroid hormone replacement has no clinically relevant benefit on patients' symptoms or prognosis. An international and independent panel -including physicians, methodologists and patients issues a strong recommendation (BMJ Rapid Recommendation) against thyroid hormones therapy for adults with subclinical hypothyroidism. This recommendation does not apply to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive or to patients with TSH > 20 mIU/l.