Wilson's temperature syndrome: Difference between revisions
this study doesn't seem to deal with "Wilson's syndrome", and so should not be presented here as if it has relevance (see WP:NOR) |
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During disciplinary action against Wilson, members of the Florida Board of Medicine stated that there was no evidence [Wilson's] syndrome existed. They described Wilson's treatments as dangerous and a scam, stating that Wilson was fleecing insurance companies and patients with treatments for "a phony syndrome".<ref name="board"/><ref name=lakeland>{{cite news |url=http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=gZcsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JvwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2485,5288440&dq=e-denis-wilson&hl=en |title=Board:Physician is fleecing patients|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date= February 9, 1992|accessdate=2010-05-27 }}</ref> They described the treatments as dangerous.<ref name="board"/><ref name=lakeland/> |
During disciplinary action against Wilson, members of the Florida Board of Medicine stated that there was no evidence [Wilson's] syndrome existed. They described Wilson's treatments as dangerous and a scam, stating that Wilson was fleecing insurance companies and patients with treatments for "a phony syndrome".<ref name="board"/><ref name=lakeland>{{cite news |url=http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=gZcsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JvwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2485,5288440&dq=e-denis-wilson&hl=en |title=Board:Physician is fleecing patients|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date= February 9, 1992|accessdate=2010-05-27 }}</ref> They described the treatments as dangerous.<ref name="board"/><ref name=lakeland/> |
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The American Thyroid Association (ATA), a [[professional association]] dedicated to promoting thyroid health, disavows Wilson's Syndrome. The ATA stated in 2005 that a "thorough review of the biomedical literature has found no scientific evidence supporting the existence of 'Wilson's Syndrome'." The statement added that the mean temperature of normal persons in the AM on waking is 97.5 °F, not 98.5 °F, and that many of the symptoms described by Wilson are nonspecific and typical of depression, anxiety, and psychological and social stress. It also notes that a similar set of symptoms occurs in the alternative diagnoses of [[neurasthenia]], [[chronic fatigue]], [[fibromyalgia]], [[multiple chemical sensitivity]], chronic Ebstein-Barr virus syndrome, and chronic candidiasis. Finally, the Association notes that chronic supplementation with [[triiodothyronine]] (T3) is particularly difficult and problematic, since various tissues set their own cellular levels of this hormone by making it individually from [[thyroxine]], and supplementation of T3 may overwhelm this normal regulatory mechanism in some of these tissues.<ref name="ATA">{{cite web |title=Public Health Statement: "Wilson’s Syndrome"|url= http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/publications/statements/99_11_16_wilsons.html |publisher=American Thyroid Association}}</ref> The ATA statement was a primary reference for the [[Mayo Clinic]] website statement that Wilson's syndrome is not an accepted medical diagnosis, and warning patients against the diagnosis and associated unproven therapies.<ref name="mayo"/> |
The American Thyroid Association (ATA), a [[professional association]] dedicated to promoting thyroid health, disavows Wilson's Syndrome. The ATA stated in 2005 that a "thorough review of the biomedical literature has found no scientific evidence supporting the existence of 'Wilson's Syndrome'." The statement added that the mean temperature of normal persons in the AM on waking is 97.5 °F, not 98.5 °F, and that many of the symptoms described by Wilson are nonspecific and typical of depression, anxiety, and psychological and social stress. It also notes that a similar set of symptoms occurs in the alternative diagnoses of [[neurasthenia]], [[chronic fatigue]], [[fibromyalgia]], [[multiple chemical sensitivity]], chronic Ebstein-Barr virus syndrome, and chronic candidiasis. Finally, the Association notes that chronic supplementation with [[triiodothyronine]] (T3) is particularly difficult and problematic, since various tissues set their own cellular levels of this hormone by making it individually from [[thyroxine]], and supplementation of T3 may overwhelm this normal regulatory mechanism in some of these tissues.<ref name="ATA">{{cite web |title=Public Health Statement: "Wilson’s Syndrome"|url= http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/publications/statements/99_11_16_wilsons.html |publisher=American Thyroid Association}}</ref> The ATA statement was a primary reference for the [[Mayo Clinic]] website statement that Wilson's syndrome is not an accepted medical diagnosis, and warning patients against the diagnosis and associated unproven therapies.<ref name="mayo"/> |
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One 2006 [[scientific control|uncontrolled study]] of 11 patients reported positive results with Wilson's therapy.<ref name="Friedman">{{cite journal | author = Friedman M, Miranda-Massari JR, Gonzalez MJ | title = Supraphysiological cyclic dosing of sustained release T3 in order to reset low basal body temperature. | journal = P R Health Sci J. | volume = 25 | issue = 1 | pages = 23–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16883675}}</ref> It is also popular in complementary and [[alternative medicine]] practices, and is being taught in naturopathic medical schools.<ref name = "Friedman Book">{{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Michael |title=Fundamentals of Naturopathic Medicine |year=2005 |publisher=Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Press |isbn=1-897025-02-5}}</ref> |
One 2006 [[scientific control|uncontrolled study]] of 11 patients reported positive results with Wilson's therapy.<ref name="Friedman">{{cite journal | author = Friedman M, Miranda-Massari JR, Gonzalez MJ | title = Supraphysiological cyclic dosing of sustained release T3 in order to reset low basal body temperature. | journal = P R Health Sci J. | volume = 25 | issue = 1 | pages = 23–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16883675}}</ref> It is also popular in complementary and [[alternative medicine]] practices, and is being taught in naturopathic medical schools.<ref name = "Friedman Book">{{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Michael |title=Fundamentals of Naturopathic Medicine |year=2005 |publisher=Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Press |isbn=1-897025-02-5}}</ref> |
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==Use of triiodothyronine to treat depression== |
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Depression is one of the main symptoms of Wilson's syndrome, and the addition of triiodothyronine to existing treatments is also one of the most widely studied augmentation strategies for [[Treatment-resistant depression|refractory depression]], however success may depend on dosage. An uncontrolled long-term study by Kelly and Lieberman of 17 patients with major refractory unipolar depression found that 14 patients showed improvement of symptoms over an average timespan of two years, with higher doses of T3 than the traditional 50 mcg being required in some cases.<ref name="Kelly">{{cite journal | author = Kelly TF, Lieberman DZ | title = Long term augmentation with T3 in refractory major depression. | journal = J Affect Disord. | volume = 115 | issue = 1-2 | pages = 230–3 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19108898}}</ref> The same authors published a retrospective study of 125 patients with three categories of [[bipolar disorder]] ([[Bipolar I disorder|I]], [[Bipolar II disorder|II]] and [[Bipolar Disorder NOS|NOS]]) whose treatment had previously been resistant to an average of 14 other medications. They found that 84% experienced improvement and 33% experienced full remission. None of the patients experienced hypomania while on T3.<ref name="Kelly">{{cite journal | author = Kelly TF, Lieberman DZ | title = The use of triiodothyronine as an augmentation agent in treatment-resistant bipolar II and bipolar disorder NOS. | journal = J Affect Disord. | volume = 116 | issue = 3 | pages = 222-6 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19215985}}</ref> |
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==Additional reading== |
==Additional reading== |
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Revision as of 20:07, 2 December 2010
Template:Distinguish2 Wilson’s (temperature) syndrome, also called Wilson’s thyroid syndrome or WTS, is an alternative medical diagnosis consisting of various common and non-specific symptoms that are attributed to a below-median body temperature and impaired conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3), despite normal thyroid function tests. E. Denis Wilson, a physician who named the syndrome after himself, advocates treating these symptoms with sustained-release triiodothyronine.
Wilson's syndrome is not recognized as a medical condition by mainstream medicine.[1] The American Thyroid Association (ATA) describes Wilson's syndrome as at odds with established knowledge of thyroid function. The ATA described the diagnostic criteria for Wilson's syndrome as imprecise and non-specific, and found a lack of any scientific evidence supporting Wilson's claims. The ATA further raised concern that the proposed treatments were potentially harmful.[2] Florida State Medical Board members described Wilson's syndrome as a "phony syndrome" and a scam during disciplinary action against Wilson,[3][4] while Quackwatch has stated it is "bogus diagnosis".[5]
Origins, claims, and disciplinary action
The term "Wilson’s syndrome" was coined in 1990 by E. Denis Wilson, M.D., of Longwood, Florida. Wilson said that the syndrome's manifestations included fatigue, headaches, PMS, hair loss, irritability, fluid retention, depression, decreased memory, low sex drive, unhealthy nails, easy weight gain, and about 60 other symptoms. Wilson wrote that the syndrome can manifest itself as "virtually every symptom known to man." He also says that it is "the most common of all chronic ailments and probably takes a greater toll on society than any other medical condition."[6]
Wilson says that low thyroid symptoms and low temperatures in the presence of normal thyroid function tests are not due to hypothyroidism, and might be reversed with a few months of treatment. To distinguish this condition from hypothyroidism, he named it Wilson's (temperature) syndrome. He states that it is "especially brought on by stress" and can persist after the stress has passed. He says that the main diagnostic sign is a body temperature that averages below 98.6 °F (37.0 °C) (oral), and that the diagnosis is confirmed if the patient responds to treatment with a "special thyroid hormone treatment". He says that certain herbs can also help support normal body temperatures. According to Wilson,[7] persons whose body temperature is routinely below 98.2 °F (36.8 °C) should be tested for hypothyroidism using the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. However, if a person's body temperature is low and the test is normal, Wilson argues that the person may have Wilson's Temperature Syndrome.
In 1988 a 50-year-old woman died of an arrhythmia and heart attack while taking excessive amounts of thyroid hormone prescribed by Wilson; around that time she confessed to not taking the medicine as regularly as prescribed.[8] Four years later, in 1992, the Florida Board of Medicine took disciplinary action against Wilson,[9] accusing him of "fleecing" patients with a "phony diagnosis".[3] The Board of Medicine and Wilson settled the disciplinary action by agreeing to a 6-month suspension of Wilson's medical license, after which Wilson would need to attend 100 hours of continuing medical education, submit to psychological testing, and pay a $10,000 fine to resume practice. Wilson also agreed not prescribe any thyroid medicine to anyone unless and until the Board of Medicine determined that the medical community has accepted “Wilson's Syndrome” and Wilson’s methods and modalities of treatment.[8][10]
Evaluations
During disciplinary action against Wilson, members of the Florida Board of Medicine stated that there was no evidence [Wilson's] syndrome existed. They described Wilson's treatments as dangerous and a scam, stating that Wilson was fleecing insurance companies and patients with treatments for "a phony syndrome".[3][4] They described the treatments as dangerous.[3][4]
The American Thyroid Association (ATA), a professional association dedicated to promoting thyroid health, disavows Wilson's Syndrome. The ATA stated in 2005 that a "thorough review of the biomedical literature has found no scientific evidence supporting the existence of 'Wilson's Syndrome'." The statement added that the mean temperature of normal persons in the AM on waking is 97.5 °F, not 98.5 °F, and that many of the symptoms described by Wilson are nonspecific and typical of depression, anxiety, and psychological and social stress. It also notes that a similar set of symptoms occurs in the alternative diagnoses of neurasthenia, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic Ebstein-Barr virus syndrome, and chronic candidiasis. Finally, the Association notes that chronic supplementation with triiodothyronine (T3) is particularly difficult and problematic, since various tissues set their own cellular levels of this hormone by making it individually from thyroxine, and supplementation of T3 may overwhelm this normal regulatory mechanism in some of these tissues.[2] The ATA statement was a primary reference for the Mayo Clinic website statement that Wilson's syndrome is not an accepted medical diagnosis, and warning patients against the diagnosis and associated unproven therapies.[1]
One 2006 uncontrolled study of 11 patients reported positive results with Wilson's therapy.[11] It is also popular in complementary and alternative medicine practices, and is being taught in naturopathic medical schools.[12]
Use of triiodothyronine to treat depression
Depression is one of the main symptoms of Wilson's syndrome, and the addition of triiodothyronine to existing treatments is also one of the most widely studied augmentation strategies for refractory depression, however success may depend on dosage. An uncontrolled long-term study by Kelly and Lieberman of 17 patients with major refractory unipolar depression found that 14 patients showed improvement of symptoms over an average timespan of two years, with higher doses of T3 than the traditional 50 mcg being required in some cases.[13] The same authors published a retrospective study of 125 patients with three categories of bipolar disorder (I, II and NOS) whose treatment had previously been resistant to an average of 14 other medications. They found that 84% experienced improvement and 33% experienced full remission. None of the patients experienced hypomania while on T3.[13]
Additional reading
- American Thryoid Association statement on Wilson's syndrome
- Thomas, Mike (September 22, 1991). "The Wilson Syndrome". Orlando Sentinel.
- Ricks, Delthia (February 8, 1992). "Longwood Doctor Is Censured". Orlando Sentinel.
References
- ^ a b Nippoldt, Todd (November 21, 2009). "Is Wilson's syndrome a legitimate ailment?". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "Public Health Statement: "Wilson's Syndrome"". American Thyroid Association.
- ^ a b c d Gentry, Carol (February 8, 1992). "Doctor's syndrome a sham, board says". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Board:Physician is fleecing patients". Lakeland Ledger. February 9, 1992. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
- ^ Barrett, Stephen. "Wilson's syndrome". Quackwatch. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ Wilson, E. Denis (1992). Wilson's Temperature Syndrome - A Reversible Low Temperature Problem. Cornerstone Publishing. ISBN 09708510-1-4.
- ^ Wilson's Temperature Syndrome - Hypothyroidism - Hypothyroid - Thyroid disease
- ^ a b State of Florida, Department of Health. February 12, 1992. Final Order Number: DPR9200039ME
- ^ "License Verification: E. Denis Wilson". Florida Department of Health. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- ^ Berdanier, Carol, ed. (2002). Handbook of Nutrition and Food. CRC Press. p. 1498. ISBN 9780849327056. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- ^ Friedman M, Miranda-Massari JR, Gonzalez MJ (2006). "Supraphysiological cyclic dosing of sustained release T3 in order to reset low basal body temperature". P R Health Sci J. 25 (1): 23–9. PMID 16883675.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Friedman, Michael (2005). Fundamentals of Naturopathic Medicine. Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Press. ISBN 1-897025-02-5.
- ^ a b Kelly TF, Lieberman DZ (2009). "Long term augmentation with T3 in refractory major depression". J Affect Disord. 115 (1–2): 230–3. PMID 19108898. Cite error: The named reference "Kelly" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).