Wilson's syndrome

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Not to be confused with Wilson's disease, a medically recognized condition caused by a defect in copper metabolism..

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 which are attributed to the thyroid, despite normal thyroid function tests. E. Denis Wilson, a physician who named the syndrome after himself, advocates treating these symptoms with a special preparation of triiodothyronine.

Wilson's syndrome is not recognized as a medical condition by mainstream medicine. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) describes Wilson's syndrome as at odds with established knowledge of thyroid function. The ATA reported a lack of supporting scientific evidence as well as aspects of Wilson's claims which were inconsistent with "well-known and widely-accepted facts" concerning the functions of the thyroid, and raised concern that the proposed treatments were potentially harmful.[1]

[edit] Origins, claims, and disciplinary action

Wilson’s syndrome was coined by E. Denis Wilson, M.D., of Longwood, Florida in 1990. Wilson said that the syndrome's manifestations included symptoms typical of low thyroid function such as 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 says that WTS 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".[2]

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,[3] 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. [4] Four years later, in 1992, the Florida Board of Medicine took disciplinary action against Wilson,[5] The Board of Medicine and Wilson settled the disciplinary action by entering into a "consent agreement" specifying that in order to resume practice after a 6 month suspension Dr. Wilson would need to attend 100 hours of continuing medical education, submit to psychological testing, pay a $10,000 fine, and not prescribe any thyroid medicine to anyone unless and until the Board of Medicine determines that the medical community has accepted “Wilson’s Syndrome” and Wilson’s methods and modalities of treatment.[4][6]

[edit] Evaluations

One uncontrolled study of 11 patients reported positive results with Wilson's therapy.[7] It is also popular in complementary and alternative medicine practices, and is being taught in naturopathic medical schools.[8]

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'."[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "ATA Statement on "Wilson’s Syndrome"". American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/publications/statements/99_11_16_wilsons.html. 
  2. ^ Wilson, E. Denis (1992). Wilson's Temperature Syndrome - A Reversible Low Temperature Problem. Cornerstone Publishing. ISBN 09708510-1-4. 
  3. ^ Wilson's Temperature Syndrome - Hypothyroidism - Hypothyroid - Thyroid disease
  4. ^ a b State of Florida, Department of Health; Date: 02-12-1992; Final Order Number: DPR9200039ME
  5. ^ "License Verification: E. Denis Wilson". Florida Department of Health. http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/irm00PRAES/PRASINDI.asp?LicId=40535&ProfNBR=1501. Retrieved April 2, 2009. 
  6. ^ Berdanier, Carol, ed (2002). Handbook of Nutrition and Food. CRC Press. p. 1498. ISBN 9780849327056. http://books.google.com/books?id=ysrzdCPc4dAC. Retrieved April 2, 2009. 
  7. ^ 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. 
  8. ^ Friedman, Michael (2005). Fundamentals of Naturopathic Medicine. Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Press. ISBN 1-897025-02-5. 
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