4 June 2018
In conjunction to the International Thyroid Awareness Week, Merck has partnered MEMS in organizing a series of thyroid evening lectures consecutively at three cities:
21st May at KL (chaired by Dr. Zanariah Hussein),
22nd May at Penang (chaired by Dr. Ang Hock Aun) and
23rd May at Kuching (chaired by Dr. Florence Tan)
The aim of the lecture is to educate doctors and pharmacists on the management of hypothyroidism and the role of levothyroxine in managing hypothyroidism. It is targeted to the healthcare professionals which includes Primary care specialists, Family Medical Specialists,
General physicians, General Practitioner, Medical Officers, and pharmacists.
The evening lectures were delivered by Prof Dr Stan Marius. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, also a member of American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Endocrine Society and American Thyroid Association. He is actively involved in educational activities, international congresses, and clinical studies. Prof. Stan shared the updates of some international guidelines in managing hypothyroidism. He also shared his clinical experiences of diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and the treatment approaches. He highlighted the consequences of subclinical hypothyroidism, which is not only impacting patient’s quality of life, but also causing high serum cholesterol and CV mobility or mortality. There is a clear association between subclinical hypothyroidism with dyslipidemia and CAD. Treatment should start if TSH is more than 10mIU/L. As for those with TSH level in between 5-10mIU/l, he would repeat TSH, fT4 and TPO Antibody test. Levothyroxine treatment should be started if patient is with TPO Antibody positive, and having some of the risk factors, such as goiter, hyperlipidemia, infertility, young patients, or patients with CHF/ CAD. He also emphasizes that treatment of levothyroxine would improve lipids and possibly CV outcomes.
The lectures ended successfully with good participation across the cities, i.e. 75 from Kuala Lumpur, 95 from Penang, and 65 from Kuching. Majority of the participants commented the talk given is very clear and practical. The lecture enhanced their knowledge in management of subclinical hypothyroidism and increased their confidence to diagnose and treat subclinical hypothyroid patients.