Interpretation of biochemical tests
High thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- with high free T4
- Assay interference
- ? TSH secreting pituitary tumour
- ? Thyroid hormone resistance
- with normal free T4
- Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH greater than 4.5 mU/L less than 20 mU/L)
- with low free T4
- primary hypothyroidism or thyroiditis (TSH usually greater than 20 mU/L)
Normal TSH
- with high free T4
- Assay interference
- ? TSH secreting pituitary tumour
- ? Thyroid hormone resistance
- with normal free T4
- with low free T4
- Sick euthyroid
- secondary hypothyroidism
Low TSH
- with high free T4
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Thyroiditis
- with normal free T4
- Free T3 raised: thyrotoxicosis, thyroiditis
- Free T3 normal: subclinical hyperthyroidism
- with low free T4