[Thyrotropic hormone in an adult population seeking care at a primary health care center].

In a study of the need for detecting subclinical hypothyroidism in a population aged 60-80 years, the measurement of thyrotropin with the immunofluorometric technique in 446 individuals seeking attention identified 58 with high TSH (greater than 4 microU/ml); only 33 of these were evaluated in a specialized endocrinological unit. The abnormality was confirmed by radioimmunometric technique in 19 patients (4%), and in the remaining 14 individuals disease was ruled out. The prevalence in this group of individuals is comparable to that found in other studies which recommend screening for subclinical hypothyroidism, but the requirement for the implementation of such a screening program in our area should be carefully evaluated before it could be recommended.