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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.
Free T4 and total T3 can be measured when hyperthyroidism is of high suspicion as it will improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Free T4, total T3 or both are elevated and serum TSH is below normal in hyperthyroidism. If the hyperthyroidism is mild, only serum T3 may be elevated and serum TSH can be low or may not be detected in the blood. [14]
TSH is the preferred initial test of thyroid function as it has a higher sensitivity to changes in thyroid status than free T 4. [60] Time of day can affect the results of this test; TSH peaks early in the morning and slumps in the late afternoon to early evening, [61] with "a variation in TSH by a mean of between 0.95 mIU/mL to 2.0 mIU/mL". [62]
Affected patients may have normal, low, or slightly elevated TSH depending on the spectrum and phase of illness. Total T4 and T3 levels may be altered by binding protein abnormalities, and medications. Reverse T3 levels are generally increased, while FT3 is decreased. FT4 levels may have a transient increase, before becoming subnormal during ...
The test is used in the differential diagnosis of secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism. First, blood is drawn and a baseline TSH level is measured. Then, TRH is administered via a vein. After 30 minutes blood is drawn again and the levels of TSH are measured and compared to the baseline. Some authors recommend additional blood sampling at 15 ...
Sensitivity of TSH-producing pituitary cells to thyroid hormones; also a marker for the set point of thyroid homeostasis The Thyrotroph Thyroid Hormone Sensitivity Index (abbreviated TTSI , also referred to as Thyrotroph T4 Resistance Index or TT4RI ) is a calculated structure parameter of thyroid homeostasis .
Thyroid function testing frequently reveals decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and increased serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) during the acute phase of the disease. [2] The intrathyroidal T3 and T4 levels are often reflected by the T3 to T4 ratio, which is typically less than 20 (ng/dL divided by μg/dL). [22]
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.