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Thyroid Hormone Cessation

Meaning

Thyroid Hormone Cessation is the deliberate or accidental discontinuation of thyroid hormone replacement therapy, such as levothyroxine or liothyronine, in patients with hypothyroidism or those undergoing preparation for specific diagnostic procedures, like radioactive iodine scanning. This action results in a rapid decline of circulating T3 and T4 levels, leading to a state of iatrogenic or secondary hypothyroidism. The physiological consequence is a profound slowing of metabolic rate, affecting virtually every organ system, necessitating careful clinical management. It is a planned or unplanned disruption of endocrine balance.