[Dysthyroidism after 60 years of age]

This work has been conducted on 162 subjects, aged over 60 years, living in Senegal, investigated in the Departement of Biophysics and Nuclear Medecine of Dakar for suspicion of dysthyroidism. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH US hormones were determined by a radio-immunological method. This technique, exhibiting good functionnal sensitivity and its high specificity, is likely to be beneficial to the diagnosis of dysthyroidisms. Besides, this experiment leads us to consider that the dosage of TSH remains an useful first intention examination for the old patients and could notably improve the screening of dysthyroidisms with a decrease in the cost of the investigation. However, because of the therapeutical implications, some biological profiles schould be interpreted cautiously. The equipment for the determination of the free fractions (T3 and T4) with the brought additional accuracy could allow to dismiss some diagnostci uncertainties.