Description
Test Description:
| CODE: | TSH |
| UNITS: | µIU/ml |
| TECHNOLOGY: | C.L.I.A |
| FASTING TYPE: | NON FASTING |
| SAMPLE TYPE: | SERUM |
| VOLUME: | 1ml |
| NORMAL RANGE: | 0.30 – 5.5 |
Clinical Significance:
CLINICAL APPLICATION:
· In evaluating thyroidal disorders.
· To confirm or rule out hypo or hyperthyroidism
· In monitoring the adequacy of the treatment.
· Increase or decrease or withdraw various drugs used in correcting functional thyroid disorders.
· Serum TSH is the most vital thyroid function index, in confirming or ruling out thyroid dysfunction. It is regarded as the frontline test by the thyroidologist.
· However, 5-8% of patients with no known thyroid history have been observed to have below or above normal TSH levels thus making all three tests compulsory to draw meaningful conclusions.
· An abnormal TSH alone is not a confirmatory evidence of thyroid hormone deficiency or excess.
Elevated in :
· Primary untreated hypothyroidism (increase is proportional to the severity of the disease).
· Hypothyroidism receiving insufficient thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
· Hashimoto’s thyroiditis including those with clinical hypothyroidism.
· Other conditions such as iodine deficiency: goiter, Iodine induced goiter or lithium treatment, External neck irradiation, Post subtotal thyroidectomy, Neonatal period.
·
Decreased in :
1. Hyperthyroidism due to :
a. Toxic multinodular Goiter
b. Autonomously functioning thyroid adenoma
c. Ophthalmopathy of Euthyroid Grave’s disease
d. Treated Grave’s disease
e. Thyroiditis
f. Extrathyroidal thyroid hormone source
2. Over replacement of thyroid hormone in treatment of hypothyroidism
3. Secondary pituitary or hypothalamic hypothyroidism.
4. Euthyroid Sick patients
