Clinical Thyroidology for the Public summarizes selected research studies discussed in the previous month’s issue of Clinical Thyroidology, an official publication of the American Thyroid Association. Editor-in-chief, Alan Farwell, MD, FACE
Volume 19 Issue 8
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Clinical Thyroidology for the Public Volume 19 Issue 8 (PDF file, 3.51MB)
TABLE OF CONTENTS – Web Format
THYROID FUNCTION AND AGING
Do TSH levels in older adults change with age?
Researchers have long observed that thyroid blood test results, particularly TSH and free T4 (FT4), may change with age. However, it remains unclear the magnitude of this change and, more importantly, how much of it reflects normal aging and how much represents true thyroid disease. This study aims to understand how thyroid levels change with aging and whether these changes are associated with true thyroid disease and/or adverse health outcomes.
Xu Y, et al. Thyroid Studies Collaboration. Natural history of thyroid function in ageing: an individual participant data analysis of 137 488 participants from 31 prospective cohort studies. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2026;14(6):485-497
HYPOTHYROIDISM
Can some older adults safely stop taking levothyroxine?
Subclinical hypothyroidism affects about 15–20% of people over age 60 and is frequently treated with levothyroxine. Studies have found that levothyroxine often does not improve common symptoms such as tiredness or high cholesterol in these patients. This study looked at whether older adults could safely reduce or stop taking levothyroxine if done so in a planned and closely monitored way.
Ravensberg J et al. Discontinuation of levothyroxine in adults aged 60 years or older. JAMA. Epub 2026 Apr 6:e262864; doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.2864. PMID: 41941226.
GRAVES’ DISEASE
How can immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for cancer affect thyroid function in patients with history of Graves’ disease?
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are very effective in certain cancer treatment. However, ICIs have also been associated thyroid hormones abnormalities occurring in up to 20% of patients receiving treatment. The current study was conducted to evaluate the potential relationship between history of Graves’ disease and development of thyroid problems among patients treated with ICIs.
Suzuki K, et al. Increased risk of hyperthyroidism induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with existing or prior Graves’ disease: a nested prospective cohort study with propensity score matching. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2025;16:1701500; doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1701500. PMID: 41404503.
GRAVES’ DISEASE
Can TRAb levels predict long-term relapse risk after anti-thyroid drug therapy for Graves’ disease?
Antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are commonly used in patients with Graves’ disease. TRAb levels are related to the risk of recurrence once ATD has been stopped. The goal of this study is to look into recurrence risk of Graves’ disease in 10 year span and determine potential risk factors for relapse.
Tun NNZ, et al. Ten year outcome of anti-thyroid drug treatment for first episode Graves’ thyrotoxicosis: the predictive importance of TRAb. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf ) 2025;103(5):612-618; doi: 10.1111/cen.70003..
GRAVES’ DISEASE
Quality of life after treatment for Graves’ disease
Several options to treat Graves’ disease exist, including long term treatment with anti-thyroid medications, surgery to remove the thyroid and radioactive iodine therapy to destroy the thyroid. Recently, a technique known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used to treat hyperthyroidism in recurrent Graves’ disease. In this study, the researchers evaluated the quality of life of Graves’ disease patients after treatment with surgery, radioactive iodine therapy or RFA.
Fung MHM, et al. Comparing the health-related quality of life at two years after successful treatment of relapsed Graves’ disease with radiofrequency ablation, surgery, or radioiodine. World J Surg 49(11), 3142-3151; doi: 10.1002/wjs.70035. PMID: 40874814
THYROID NODULES
Effect of a single RFA treatment on benign thyroid nodules
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a non-surgical option to treat benign nodules, including toxic nodules. Often, multiple RFA treatments are needed to shrink and destroy the nodule. This study looks at the short-term and long-term results after one RFA treatment in patients with thyroid nodules.
Dobnig H, Amrein K. Mid- to long-term outcomes after single radiofrequency ablation of nontoxic and toxic thyroid nodules. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2026;111(5):1397–1407; doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf611. PMID: 41192411.
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