Potential therapeutic uses of thyroid hormone

Abstract

Editorial Perspective: At the outset, I must admit my bias and conflict of interest on this topic as I have US Patent Number 5,951,989 for the use of topical thyroid hormone in treating xerosis. Regardless of that fact, it is clear that the therapeutic use of thyroid hormone has been considered a neglected stepchild compared to hormones of the same nuclear receptor subfamily: corticosteroids, retinoids, and vitamin D. Indeed, a PubMed search performed on Independence Day (July 4th) 2007 revealed 10,081 references for topical corticosteroids and only 69 for topical thyroid hormone. As explained in this chapter, thyroid hormone has profound effects on the skin and its appendages and has the potential to treat myriad conditions, including disorders of keratinization, alopecia, wound healing, xerosis, and chronic idi-opathic urticaria. This subject was chosen for the concluding chapter of this text because I hope the reader will have already come to the realization that not only are thyroid-cutaneous interactions important in health and disease but also that further research in this discipline may foster novel concepts and therapies utilizing thyroid hormone to alleviate human suffering. © 2008 Springer-Verlag London.