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Thyroid Function Tests and antibodies
Related Subjects: |Thyrotoxicosis and Hyperthyroidism |Thyroid Storm - Thyrotoxic crisis |Graves Disease (Thyrotoxicosis) |Amiodarone and Thyroid disease |Thyroid Surgery (Thyroidectomy) |Hypothyroidism |Hashimoto's thyroiditis |DeQuervain's thyroiditis |Subacute Thyroiditis |Thyroid nodule |Congenital Hypothyroidism |Thyroid Function Tests and antibodies |Post partum thyroiditis |Sick Euthyroid Syndrome |Thyroid Exam (OSCE) |Thyroid Gland anatomy and Physiology |Thyroid Cancer
🩺 Screening – Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs)
- 💓 Atrial fibrillation
- 🧪 Dyslipidaemia
- 🍬 Diabetes mellitus (DM)
- 🤰 Pregnancy in T1DM – 1st trimester and post-partum
- 💊 Amiodarone / Lithium – check every 6 months
- 🧬 Genetic syndromes – Down's, Turner’s
- 🩸 Addison’s disease
📊 Interpretation of TFT Patterns
| Clinical Condition | TSH (0.2–4.0 mIU/L) | Free T3 | Free T4 (10–20 pmol/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌡️ Primary thyrotoxicosis | Undetectable | High | High |
| 🔥 T3 thyrotoxicosis | Undetectable | High | Normal |
| ⚡ Subclinical thyrotoxicosis | Low / suppressed | Normal | Normal |
| 💊 Non-thyroidal illness (sick euthyroid), Amiodarone | Low / variable | Low or high | Low / Normal |
| 🧠 Secondary hypothyroidism (pituitary) | Normal / Low | Low | Low |
| ❄️ Primary hypothyroidism | Elevated | Low | Low |
| ⚠️ Subclinical hypothyroidism | Elevated | Normal | Normal |
🙂 The Euthyroid Patient
- TSH within 0.2–4.0 mIU/L and Free T4 within 10–20 pmol/L.
- Free T3 also within reference range.
🧬 Thyroid Antibodies
| Antibody | Target | Associated Conditions | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔆 Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) | TSH Receptor | Graves’ disease | Stimulates receptor → hyperthyroidism, diffuse goitre, ophthalmopathy. |
| 🔄 TRAb (Thyrotropin receptor antibodies) | TSH Receptor | Graves’, Hashimoto’s | May stimulate or block → hyper or hypothyroidism. |
| 🛡️ Anti-TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase antibody) | Thyroid peroxidase enzyme | Hashimoto’s, Graves’ | Marker of autoimmune thyroiditis → indicates tissue destruction. |
| ⚪ Anti-Tg (Thyroglobulin antibody) | Thyroglobulin protein | Hashimoto’s, Graves’ | Seen in chronic thyroiditis; may interfere with thyroglobulin tumour marker tests. |
| 🚫 Blocking TSH receptor antibodies | TSH Receptor | Hypothyroid Graves’, neonatal hypothyroidism | Blocks stimulation → hypothyroidism, can cross placenta. |
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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