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The letter published in the Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine journal highlights the urgent need to adopt age-specific upper reference limits for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the elderly. As individuals age, TSH levels tend to increase, leading to potential misdiagnoses of subclinical hypothyroidism and unnecessary treatment with levothyroxine. The European Thyroid Association and the United States National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry recommend age-specific TSH reference ranges to accurately diagnose and manage thyroid disorders in older individuals. It is crucial for clinicians to consider age-related changes in TSH levels, comorbidities, and other influencing factors when deciding on interventions for elevated TSH levels in the elderly. [Extracted from the article]

The article, titled "Use of thyroid function tests in urine: a position statement of the Belgian Thyroid Club," discusses the use of urine testing for thyroid hormones and argues against its reliability and usefulness in diagnosing and managing thyroid disorders. The authors highlight limitations such as lack of sensitivity and specificity, susceptibility to interference, and lack of standardized assays and reference ranges. They emphasize that blood testing for thyroid hormones is the only evidence-based method recommended by international scientific societies for the diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases. [Extracted from the article]