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Hashimoto's thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto's disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed. [7] [1] Early on, symptoms may not be noticed. [3] Over time, the thyroid may enlarge, forming a painless goiter. [3]
In overt primary hypothyroidism, TSH levels are high and T 4 and T 3 levels are low. Overt hypothyroidism may also be diagnosed in those who have a TSH on multiple occasions of greater than 5mIU/L, appropriate symptoms, and only a borderline low T 4. [46] It may also be diagnosed in those with a TSH of greater than 10mIU/L. [46]
Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid. [1] TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or to monitor the effectiveness of either thyroid-suppression or hormone replacement therapy.
Certain medications can have the unintended side effect of affecting thyroid function. While some medications can lead to significant hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and those at risk will need to be carefully monitored, some medications may affect thyroid hormone lab tests without causing any symptoms or clinical changes, and may not require treatment.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (also known as thyrotropin, thyrotropic hormone, or abbreviated TSH) is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine (T 4), and then triiodothyronine (T 3) which stimulates the metabolism of almost every tissue in the body. [1]
The TSH, in turn, stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone until levels in the blood return to normal. Thyroid hormone exerts negative feedback control over the hypothalamus as well as anterior pituitary, thus controlling the release of both TRH from hypothalamus and TSH from anterior pituitary gland.
Furthermore, reviewing their medications and possible dietary supplements is important, as several medications can affect thyroid hormone levels. [14] Levothyroxine is also used to treat subclinical hypothyroidism, which is defined by an elevated TSH level and a normal-range free T 4 level without symptoms. [14]
In children, late blood sampling at 60 to 120 minutes is necessary. An increase in the serum TSH level following TRH administration means that the cause of the hypothyroidism is in the hypothalamus (tertiary hypothyroidism), i.e. the hypothalamus is not producing TRH. Therefore, when TRH is given exogenously, TSH levels increase.