Which statement about desiccated thyroid is correct?

Which statement about desiccated thyroid is correct?

• A. It is the preferred thyroid replacement in older adults.
• B. It is inappropriate for older adults due to cardiac concerns; safer alternatives available.
• C. It has no safety concerns.
• D. It is recommended for weight loss in older adults.

Answer: (B)

Desiccated thyroid carries cardiac risk and has unpredictable potency, making it inappropriate for older adults. In the elderly, thyroid hormone replacement needs careful, predictable dosing to avoid overtreatment that can trigger tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Desiccated thyroid provides both T4 and T3 with variable strength, so it's harder to titrate safely. Safer, more standardized options exist—levothyroxine is preferred because its potency is consistent and dosing can be precisely adjusted, reducing cardiac risk. Thus, the best choice is that desiccated thyroid is inappropriate for older adults due to cardiac concerns, with safer alternatives available.

Desiccated thyroid carries cardiac risk and has unpredictable potency, making it inappropriate for older adults. In the elderly, thyroid hormone replacement needs careful, predictable dosing to avoid overtreatment that can trigger tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Desiccated thyroid provides both T4 and T3 with variable strength, so it's harder to titrate safely. Safer, more standardized options exist—levothyroxine is preferred because its potency is consistent and dosing can be precisely adjusted, reducing cardiac risk. Thus, the best choice is that desiccated thyroid is inappropriate for older adults due to cardiac concerns, with safer alternatives available.