Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term forblood tests used to check the function of thethyroid.[1]TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer fromhyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) orhypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or to monitor the effectiveness of either thyroid-suppression or hormone replacement therapy. It is also requested routinely in conditions linked to thyroid disease, such asatrial fibrillation andanxiety disorder.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) is generally increased in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism,[2] making it the most important test for early detection of both of these conditions.[3][4] The result of thisassay is suggestive of the presence and cause of thyroid disease, since a measurement of elevated TSH generally indicateshypothyroidism, while a measurement of low TSH generally indicateshyperthyroidism.[2] However, when TSH is measured by itself, it can yield misleading results, so additional thyroid function tests must be compared with the result of this test for accurate diagnosis.[4][5][6]
First-generation TSH assays were done byradioimmunoassay and were introduced in 1965.[3] There were variations and improvements upon TSH radioimmunoassay, but their use declined as a new immunometric assay technique became available in the middle of the 1980s.[3][4] The new techniques were more accurate, leading to the second, third, and even fourth generations of TSH assay, with each generation possessing ten times greater functional sensitivity than the last.[7] Third generation immunometric assay methods are typically automated.[3] Fourth generation TSH immunometric assay has been developed for use in research.[4]
Third generation TSH assay is the requirement for modern standards of care. TSH testing in the United States is typically carried out with automated platforms using advanced forms of immunometric assay.[3] Nonetheless, there is no international standard for measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone.[4]
Total thyroxine is rarely measured, having been largely superseded by free thyroxine tests. Totalthyroxine (Total T4) is generally elevated inhyperthyroidism and decreased inhypothyroidism.[2] It is usually slightly elevated in pregnancy secondary to increased levels ofthyroid binding globulin (TBG).[2]
Total T4 is measured to see the bound and unbound levels of T4. The total T4 is less useful in cases where there could be protein abnormalities. The total T4 is less accurate due to the large amount of T4 that is bound. The total T3 is measured in clinical practice since the T3 has decreased amount that is bound as compared to T4.[citation needed]
Reference ranges depend on the method of analysis. Results should always be interpreted using the range from the laboratory that performed the test. Example values are:
Reference ranges depend on the method of analysis. Results should always be interpreted using the range from the laboratory that performed the test. Example values are:
Totaltriiodothyronine (Total T3) is rarely measured, having been largely superseded by free T3 tests. Total T3 is generally elevated in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism.[2]
Reference ranges depend on the method of analysis. Results should always be interpreted using the range from the laboratory that performed the test. Example values are:
Freetriiodothyronine (fT3 or free T3) is generally elevated in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism.[2]
Reference ranges depend on the method of analysis. Results should always be interpreted using the range from the laboratory that performed the test. Example values are:
An increasedthyroxine-binding globulin results in an increased total thyroxine and total triiodothyronine without an actual increase in hormonal activity of thyroid hormones.
Thyroid hormone uptake (Tuptake or T3 uptake) is a measure of the unboundthyroxine binding globulins in the blood, that is, the TBG that is unsaturated with thyroid hormone.[2] Unsaturated TBG increases with decreased levels of thyroid hormones. It is not directly related to triiodothyronine, despite the name T3 uptake.[2]
The Free Thyroxine Index (FTI or T7) is obtained by multiplying the total T4 with T3 uptake.[2] FTI is considered to be a more reliable indicator of thyroid status in the presence of abnormalities in plasma protein binding.[2] This test is rarely used now that reliable free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine assays are routinely available.
FTI is elevated in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism.[2]
Reference ranges for thyroid's secretory capacity (SPINA-GT) and Jostel's TSH index (TSHI or JTI) compared to univariable reference ranges for thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4), shown in the two-dimensional phase plane defined by serum concentrations of TSH and FT4.
Thyroid's secretory capacity (GT, also referred to as SPINA-GT) is the maximum stimulated amount of thyroxine the thyroid can produce in one second.[24]GT is elevated in hyperthyroidism and reduced in hypothyroidism.[25]
GT is calculated with
or
: Dilution factor for T4 (reciprocal of apparent volume of distribution, 0.1 l−1) : Clearance exponent for T4 (1.1e-6 sec−1) K41: Dissociation constant T4-TBG (2e10 L/mol) K42: Dissociation constant T4-TBPA (2e8 L/mol) DT: EC50 for TSH (2.75 mU/L)[24]
: Dilution factor for T3 (reciprocal of apparent volume of distribution, 0.026 L−1) : Clearance exponent for T3 (8e-6 sec−1) KM1: Dissociation constant of type-1-deiodinase (5e-7 mol/L) K30: Dissociation constant T3-TBG (2e9 L/mol)[24]
Jostel's TSH index (JTI or TSHI) helps to determine thyrotropic function of anteriorpituitary on a quantitative level.[27] It is reduced in thyrotropic insufficiency[27] and in certain cases of non-thyroidal illness syndrome.[26]
It is calculated with
.
Additionally, a standardized form of TSH index may be calculated with
TheThyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI) is another parameter for thyrotropic pituitary function. It was defined to be more robust to distorted data than JTI and TTSI. It is calculated with
In healthy persons, the intra-individual variation of TSH and thyroid hormones is considerably smaller than the inter-individual variation.[39][40][41] This results from a personalset point of thyroid homeostasis.[42] In hypothyroidism, it is impossible to directly access the set point,[43] but it can be reconstructed with methods of systems theory.[44][45][46]
A computerised algorithm, called Thyroid-SPOT, which is based on this mathematical theory, has been implemented in software applications.[47] In patients undergoing thyroidectomy it could be demonstrated that this algorithm can be used to reconstruct the personal set point with sufficient precision.[48]
^abRosolowska-Huszcz D, Kozlowska L, Rydzewski A (August 2005). "Influence of low protein diet on nonthyroidal illness syndrome in chronic renal failure".Endocrine.27 (3):283–8.doi:10.1385/ENDO:27:3:283.PMID16230785.S2CID25630198.
^abLiu S, Ren J, Zhao Y, Han G, Hong Z, Yan D, Chen J, Gu G, Wang G, Wang X, Fan C, Li J (2012). "Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome: Is it Far Away From Crohn's Disease?".J Clin Gastroenterol.47 (2):153–9.doi:10.1097/MCG.0b013e318254ea8a.PMID22874844.S2CID35344744.
^Dietrich, J., M. Fischer, J. Jauch, E. Pantke, R. Gärtner und C. R. Pickardt (1999). "SPINA-THYR: A Novel Systems Theoretic Approach to Determine the Secretion Capacity of the Thyroid Gland."European Journal of Internal Medicine 10, Suppl. 1 (5/1999): S34.
^"Schilddrüsenhormonresistenz und Risiko für Diabetes und metabolisches Syndrom".Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel.14 (2): 78. 16 April 2019.doi:10.1055/a-0758-5718.S2CID243074371.
^Paschou, Stavroula A.; Alexandrides, Theodoros (19 October 2019). "A year in type 2 diabetes mellitus: 2018 review based on the Endorama lecture".Hormones.18 (4):401–408.doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00139-z.PMID31630372.S2CID204786351.
^Guan, Haixia (April 2019). "Mild Acquired Thyroid Hormone Resistance Is Associated with Diabetes-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the General Population".Clinical Thyroidology.31 (4):138–140.doi:10.1089/ct.2019;31.138-140.S2CID145947179.
^Lou-Bonafonte, José Manuel; Civeira, Fernando; Laclaustra, Martín (20 February 2020). "Quantifying Thyroid Hormone Resistance in Obesity".Obesity Surgery.30 (6):2411–2412.doi:10.1007/s11695-020-04491-7.PMID32078724.S2CID211217245.
^Larisch, R; Giacobino, A; Eckl, W; Wahl, HG; Midgley, JE; Hoermann, R (2015). "Reference range for thyrotropin. Post hoc assessment".Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear Medicine.54 (3):112–7.doi:10.3413/Nukmed-0671-14-06.PMID25567792.S2CID9607904.
^Goede, SL; Leow, MK; Smit, JW; Dietrich, JW (March 2014). "A novel minimal mathematical model of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis validated for individualized clinical applications".Mathematical Biosciences.249:1–7.doi:10.1016/j.mbs.2014.01.001.PMID24480737.
^Goede, SL; Leow, MK; Smit, JW; Klein, HH; Dietrich, JW (June 2014). "Hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid feedback control: implications of mathematical modeling and consequences for thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) reference ranges".Bulletin of Mathematical Biology.76 (6):1270–87.doi:10.1007/s11538-014-9955-5.PMID24789568.S2CID23894743.
^Li, E; Yen, PM; Dietrich, JW; Leow, MK (17 August 2020). "Profiling retrospective thyroid function data in complete thyroidectomy patients to investigate the HPT axis set point (PREDICT-IT)".Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.44 (5):969–977.doi:10.1007/s40618-020-01390-7.PMID32808162.S2CID221146170.
^Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE (2012).Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 5th edition. Elsevier Saunders. p. 1920.ISBN978-1-4160-6164-9.