Skip to main content

Pseudo-Endocrine Disorders: My General Approach to Management of the Patient

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Management of Patients with Pseudo-Endocrine Disorders
  • 499 Accesses

Abstract

Experienced providers vary significantly in their opinions regarding the optimal evaluation and management strategies for patients with pseudo-endocrine conditions. Most believe in a purely evidence-based approach that emphasizes the robustness of our current testing paradigms and the safety and effectiveness of the currently available FDA approved treatment modalities. Others agree with evidence-based diagnostic and treatment recommendations but utilize a modified approach that includes variable degrees of alternative medicine strategies in areas where no solid evidence base exists. In this chapter, I describe my own personal practice which emphasizes compassion, honesty, and an individualized approach to each patient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Suggested Reading

  1. Garber J, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for hypothyroidism in adults: cosponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Thyroid Association. Endocr Pract. 2012;18(6):988–1028. Thyroid. 2012;22(12):1200–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jonklaas J, Bianco AC, Bauer AJ, Burman KD, Cappola AR, Celi FS, Cooper DS, American Thyroid Association Task Force on Thyroid Hormone Replacement, et al. Guidelines for the treatment of hypothyroidism: prepared by the American Thyroid Association task force on thyroid hormone replacement. Thyroid. 2014;24(12):1670–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Guglielmi R, Frasoldati A, Zini M, Grimaldi F, Gharib H, Garber JR, Papini E. Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists statement-replacement therapy for primary hypothyroidism: a brief guide for clinical practice. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(11):1319–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bornstein SR, Allolio B, Arlt W, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101:364–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Fleseriu M, Hashim IA, Karavitaki N, et al. Hormonal replacement in hypopituitarism in adults: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101:3888–921.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Molitch ME, Clemmons DR, Malozowski S, Merriam GR, Vance ML. Evaluation and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:1587–609.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bollerslev J, Rejnmark L, Marcocci C, Shoback DM, Sitges-Serra A, van Biesen W, Dekkers OM, European Society of Endocrinology. European Society of endocrinology clinical guideline: treatment of chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults. Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173(2):G1–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jerant A, Fenton JJ, Kravitz RL, et al. Association of Clinical Denial of patient requests with patient satisfaction. JAMA Intern Med 2018 Jan 1;178(1):85–91. Published Online November 27, 2017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pryor L. How to counter the circus of pseudoscience. New York Times, Jan 5, 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Seaborg E. The myth of adrenal fatigue. Endocrine News, 2017. p. 29–32.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schaffer R. In age of internet diagnoses, endocrinologists confront myth of “adrenal fatigue”. Endocrine Today, April 2018. p. 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hormone Health Network adrenal fatigue fact sheet: www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/adrenal/adrenal-fatigue.

  13. Hormone Foundation (Endocrine Society) website – adrenal fatigue: https://www.hormone.org/-/media/hormone/files/myth-vs-fact/mfsadrenalfatigue-520.pdf?la=en.

  14. Mayo Clinic website – adrenal fatigue: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/expert-answers/adrenal-fatigue/faq-20057906.

  15. Akturk HD, Chindris AM, Hines JM, Singh RJ, Bernet VJ. Over-the-counter “adrenal support” supplements contain thyroid and steroid-based adrenal hormones. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018;93(3):284–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Donegan D, Bancos I. Opioid-induced adrenal insufficiency. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018;93(7):937–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wilson’s syndrome website: http://www.wilsonssyndrome.com/meet-dr-wilson/.

  18. Wikipedia – Wilson’s syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson%27s_temperature_syndrome.

  19. American Thyroid Association (ATA) website – search for Wilson’s syndrome: www.Thyroid.Org.

  20. State of Florida, Department of Health. Final order number: DPR9200039ME – Ruling against Wilson’s syndrome, Feb 12, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Reverse T3 syndrome website: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.

  22. Baillargeon J, Kuo YF, Westra JR, Urban RJ, Goodwin JS. Testosterone prescribing in the United States, 2002–2016. JAMA. 2018;320(2):200–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Layton JB, Kim Y, Alexander GC, Emery SL. Association between direct-to-consumer advertising and testosterone testing and initiation in the United States, 2009–2013. JAMA. 2017;317(11):1159–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Schwartz LM, Woloshin S. Low “T” as in “Template”. How to sell disease. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(15):1460–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gomes-Lima C, Burman KD. Reverse T3 or perverse T3? Still puzzling after 40 years. Cleve Clin J Med. 2018;85(6):450–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Schmidt RL, LoPresti JS, McDermott MT, Zick SM, Straseski JA. Is reverse triiodothyronine ordered appropriately? Data from reference lab shows wide practice variation in orders for reverse triiodothyronine. Thyroid. 2018;28(7):842–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Muller RS. Making a difference in adrenal fatigue. Endocr Pract. 2018;24(12):1103–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Gota CE. What you can do for your fibromyalgia patient. Cleve Clin J Med. 2018;85(5):367–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Warraich H. Dr Google is a liar. New York Times, Dec 16, 2018; Page A19 of the New York Edition.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Hellmuth J, Rabinovici GD, Miller BL. The rise of pseudomedicine for dementia and brain health. JAMA. 2019;321:543–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael T. McDermott .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

McDermott, M.T. (2019). Pseudo-Endocrine Disorders: My General Approach to Management of the Patient. In: McDermott, M. (eds) Management of Patients with Pseudo-Endocrine Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22720-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22720-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-22719-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-22720-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics