![Thyroid tests
Total serum T4:
Reference range: 4 - 12 microgram/dl
Measures both bound and free T4
Increased total serum T4 – hyperthyroidism/
increase concentration of thyroid binding proteins
Decreased total serum T4 –
hypothyroidism/decrease concentration of thyroid
binding proteins/ non thyroid illness [DM, liver disease,
renal failure, prolonged infection and CV diseases]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/thyroidfunctiontests-130723113226-phpapp01/85/Thyroid-function-tests-12-320.jpg)
Thyroid function tests
- 2. Introduction Thyroid hormones: tetra iodothyronine / thyroxine (T4) tri iodothyronine (T3) Binds to: thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) thyroxine binding pre albumin (TBPA) albumin apolipoproteins Free fractions are metabolically active
- 3. Differences between T3 and T4 T3 T4 Secretion 30 microgram /day 80 microgram /day Source 20 – 25% by gland 75 - 80% by conversion Solely by gland Half-life 1 day 7 days Potency 3-4 times more potent than T4 Potent Binding 0.2% in unbound 0.02% in unbound
- 4. Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Primary Secondary Tertiary Hyperthyroidism
- 5. Thyroid disorders Symptoms of hypothyroidism Lethargy Constipation Dry and coarse skin and hair Facial puffiness Cold intolerance Decreased sweating Impaired memory Confusion Dementia Low speech and motor activity Anemia
- 6. Thyroid disorders Causes of hypothyroidism Primary Secondary Tertiary Iodine deficiency Excess iodide intake Thyroid ablation (Surgery) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis Sub acute thyroiditis Genetic abnormalities Goiterogenic food (cabbage) Drugs – Lithium – Amiodarone – Anti thyroid agents Hypopituitarism - Adenoma - Ablative therapy - Pituitary destruction Hypothalamic dysfunction
- 7. Thyroid disorders Symptoms of hyperthyroidism Nervousness Fatigue Weight loss Heat intolerance Increased sweating Tachycardia Atrial fibrillation Warm and moist skin Exophthalmos
- 8. Thyroid disorders Causes of hyperthyroidism a) Overproduction of thyroid hormones a) Grave’s disease b) TSH secreting pituitary adenomas c) Multi nodular goiter b) Leaking thyroid hormone due to thyroid destruction a) Lymphocytic thyroiditis b) Sub acute thyroiditis c) Radiation c) Drugs a) Thyroid replacement drugs b) Amiodarone c) Iodinated radio contrast agents d) Metastatic thyroid carcinoma
- 9. Thyroid tests Tests specific to thyroid status: Measure the concentration of products secreted by the thyroid gland Evaluate the integrity of the hypothalamic– pituitary- thyroid axis Assess inherent thyroid gland function Detect antibodies to thyroid tissue
- 10. Thyroid tests Measure the concentration of products secreted by the thyroid gland Free T4 Total serum T4 Serum T3 resin uptake Free T4 index Total serum T3
- 11. Thyroid tests Free T4: Reference range: 0.8 - 2.7 nanogram/dl Measures unbound fraction of T4 Decreased direct equilibrium dialysis (method) T4 and increase TSH is suggestive of primary hypothyroidism Increase DED free T4 and TSH of less than 0.01 milliunits/L is suggestive of non-pituitary hyperthyroidism
- 12. Thyroid tests Total serum T4: Reference range: 4 - 12 microgram/dl Measures both bound and free T4 Increased total serum T4 – hyperthyroidism/ increase concentration of thyroid binding proteins Decreased total serum T4 – hypothyroidism/decrease concentration of thyroid binding proteins/ non thyroid illness [DM, liver disease, renal failure, prolonged infection and CV diseases]
- 13. Thyroid tests Serum T3 resin uptake (thyroid hormone binding ratio): Reference range: 25 – 35% Indirectly estimates the number of binding sites on thyroid binding proteins occupied by T3 The T3 resin uptake is high when thyroid –binding protein is low and vice versa
- 14. Thyroid tests Increase in T3 resin uptake - consistent with hyperthyroidism Decrease in T3 resin uptake - consistent with hypothyroidism This test is never used alone for diagnosis. In practice, the T3 resin uptake test is used only to calculate the free T4 index
- 15. Thyroid tests Free thyroxine (T4) index: Reference range: 1.2 – 4.2 Free T4 index = Total serum T4 (mg/dl) X T3 resin uptake (%) The index is high in hyperthyroidism The index is low in hypothyroidism
- 16. Thyroid tests Total serum T3: Reference range: 78 - 195 nanogram/dl Used to detect T3 toxicosis (increase T3 and normal T4)
- 17. Thyroid tests Evaluate the integrity of the hypothalamic – pituitary - thyroid axis: Assessed by measuring TSH and TRH
- 18. Thyroid tests TSH: Ref range: 0.3 - 5 microunits /ml or milliunits /L Symptomatic primary hypothyroidism: >20 mu/L Mild symptomatic hypothyroidism: 10 to 20 mu/L Primary hyperthyroidism: <0.05 mu/L
- 19. Thyroid tests TRH: Regulates the TSH secretion from pituitary TRH test measure the ability of TRH to stimulate the pituitary to secrete TSH TSH rise of 5 micro units/ml over baseline - euthyroid state A significant increase rules out – hyperthyroidism Is performed by drawing baseline serum TSH concentration and then administer approximately 200-400 microgram of TRH by iv over 30 – 60 seconds. Then TSH concentration drawn at 30 – 60 minutes
- 20. Thyroid tests Assess inherent thyroid gland function Radioactive iodine uptake test is used to assess intrinsic function of the thyroid gland This test is not specific and the reference range should be adjusted based on local population This test is indirect measure of thyroid activity
- 21. Thyroid tests Subject with normal thyroid gland 12 – 20% of radio active iodine is absorbed after 6 hours 5 - 25% of radio active iodine is absorbed after 24 hours
- 22. Thyroid tests Increased radio active iodine uptake noted in: Thyrotoxicosis Iodine deficiency Post thyroiditis Withdrawal rebound after thyroid hormone/ anti thyroid drug therapy Decreased radio active iodine uptake noted in: Acute thyroiditis Euthyroid patients Patients on exogenous thyroid hormone therapy Patients taking anti-thyroid drugs hypothyroidism
- 23. Thyroid tests Detect antibodies to thyroid tissue (Anti thyroid antibodies) Found in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (95% of patients) and Grave’s disease (55% of patients) Adults without thyroid disease (10% of adults) In Grave’s disease, hyperthyroidism is caused by antibodies activating TSH receptors In thyroiditis, hypothyroidism is caused by antibodies competitively binding to TSH receptors thus blocking the TSH from eliciting the response
- 24. Summary Disease Total serum T4 Total serum T3 T3 resin uptake Free T4 index Radioactiv e iodine uptake test TSH Hypothyroidism 10 20 , 30 Hyperthyroidism T3 toxicosis No change No change No change No change Euthyroid sick syndrome No change variable No change No change
- 25. Thank you