TSH: The Test . It is part of the body's feedback system to maintain stable amounts of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the blood and to help control the rate at which the body uses energy. A TSH test is frequently ordered along with or preceding a free T4 test.
Other thyroid tests that may be ordered include a free T3 test and thyroid antibodies (if autoimmune- related thyroid disease is suspected). Sometimes TSH, free T4 and free T3 are ordered together as a thyroid panel. TSH testing is used to: Diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms. Screen newborns for an underactive thyroid.
Monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism. Monitor anti- thyroid treatment in people with hyperthyroidism. Help diagnose and monitor infertility problems in women. Help evaluate the function of the pituitary gland (occasionally)Screen adults for thyroid disorders, although expert opinions vary on who can benefit from screening and at what age to begin^ Back to top. When is it ordered? A health practitioner may order a TSH test when someone has symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism and/or when a person has an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).
Understanding Your Thyroid Blood Tests and Results TSH, T4, Free T4, T3, Free T3, Reverse T3, Antibodies, and Other Tests.
Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include: Increased heart rate. Anxiety. Weight loss. Difficulty sleeping. Tremors in the hands. Weakness. Diarrhea (sometimes)Light sensitivity, visual disturbances. The eyes may be affected: puffiness around the eyes, dryness, irritation, and, in some cases, bulging of the eyes. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism may include: Weight gain.
Dry skin. Constipation. Cold intolerance. Puffy skin. Hair loss. Fatigue. Menstrual irregularity in women. TSH may be ordered at regular intervals when an individual is being treated for a known thyroid disorder. When a person's dose of thyroid medication is adjusted, the American Thyroid Association recommends waiting 6- 8 weeks before testing the level of TSH again. TSH screening is routinely performed in the United States on newborns soon after birth as part of each state's newborn screening program.
In 2. 00. 4, the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for thyroid disease in asymptomatic adults. However, the American Thyroid Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists released clinical practice guidelines in 2. Because the signs and symptoms of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are so similar to those seen in many common disorders, health practitioners often need to rule out thyroid disease even though the patient has another problem.^ Back to top.
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What does the test result mean? A high TSH result may mean that: The person tested has an underactive thyroid gland that is not responding adequately to the stimulation of TSH due to some type of acute or chronic thyroid dysfunction. A person with hypothyroidism or who has had their thyroid gland removed is receiving too little thyroid hormone replacement medication and the dose may need to be adjusted. A person with hyperthyroidism is receiving too much anti- thyroid medication and the dose needs adjusting. There is a problem with the pituitary gland, such as a tumor producing unregulated levels of TSHA low TSH result may indicate: An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)Excessive amounts of thyroid hormone medication in those who are being treated for an underactive (or removed) thyroid gland.
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Insufficient anti- thyroid medication in a person being treated for hyperthyroidism; however, it may take a while for TSH production to resume after successful anti- thyroid treatment. This is why the American Thyroid Association recommends monitoring this treatment with tests for thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) as well as TSH levels. Damage to the pituitary gland that prevents it from producing adequate amounts of TSHWhether high or low, an abnormal TSH indicates an excess or deficiency in the amount of thyroid hormone available to the body, but it does not indicate the reason why. An abnormal TSH test result is usually followed by additional testing to investigate the cause of the increase or decrease. The following table summarizes some examples of typical test results and their potential meaning.
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TSH Free T4. Free or total T3. Probable Interpretation. High. Normal. Normal. Mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism. High. Low. Low or normal. Hypothyroidism. Low. Normal. Normal. Mild (subclinical) hyperthyroidism.
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Thyroid Blood Tests (TFT - Thyroid Function Test) The blood test for thyroid problems is called a Thyroid Function Test. The most usual tests are. Thyroid Panel (TSH, T4, Free T4, Free T3): This panel is used to evaluate thyroid function. Low thyroid function may result in fatigue, dry skin, and excessive weight. A T4 test is a blood test that helps your doctor identify problems with your thyroid. We’ll show you why it’s used, how to prepare, and what the results mean. I am going monday to get my first T4 and TSH since my TT in January. I am on Synthroid 150 once in the AM. Shoud I fast before this blood draw? I want to do it right.
Low. High or normal. High or normal. Hyperthyroidism. Low. Low or normal. Low or normal. Non- thyroidal illness; pituitary (secondary) hypothyroidism. Normal. High. High.
Thyroid hormone resistance syndrome (a mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor decreases thyroid hormone function)^ Back to top. Is there anything else I should know? It is important to note that TSH, free T4, and free T3 tests are a . An individual person's thyroid testing results may vary and may be affected by: Increases, decreases, and changes (inherited or acquired) in the proteins that bind T4 and T3.
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Pregnancy. Estrogen and other drugs. Liver disease. Systemic illness. Resistance to thyroid hormones. Many medications — including aspirin and thyroid- hormone replacement therapy — may affect thyroid gland function test results and their use should be discussed with the health practitioner prior to testing. Illnesses not directly related to the thyroid, . In particular, the level of T3 can be low in nonthyroidal illness (NTI).
Typically, the thyroid hormone levels return to normal after a person recovers from the nonthyroidal illness. Historically, this condition was referred to as .
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It is generally recommended that thyroid testing be avoided in hospitalized patients or deferred until after a person has recovered from an acute illness. Results may be low during the first trimester of pregnancy.^ Back to top.
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