Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid.[1]
TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (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 as atrial fibrillation and anxiety 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 this assay is suggestive of the presence and cause of thyroid disease, since a measurement of elevated TSH generally indicates hypothyroidism, while a measurement of low TSH generally indicates hyperthyroidism.[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 by radioimmunoassay 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]
Current status
Third generation TSH assay is the current requirement for modern standards of care. At present, TSH testing in the United States is typically carried out with automated platforms using advanced forms of immunometric assay.[3] Nonetheless, there is currently no international standard for measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone.[4]
Total thyroxine is rarely measured, having been largely superseded by free thyroxine tests. Total thyroxine (Total T4) is generally elevated in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism.[2] It is usually slightly elevated in pregnancy secondary to increased levels of thyroid 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:
Total triiodothyronine (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:
Free triiodothyronine (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 increased thyroxine-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 unbound thyroxine 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.
Derived structure parameters that describe constant properties of the overall feedback control system may add useful information for special purposes, e.g. in diagnosis of nonthyroidal illness syndrome or central hypothyroidism.[20][21][22][23]
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 anterior pituitary 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
The Thyrotroph Thyroid Hormone Sensitivity Index (TTSI, also referred to as Thyrotroph T4 Resistance Index or TT4RI) was developed to enable fast screening for resistance to thyroid hormone.[28][29] Somewhat similar to the TSH Index it is calculated from equilibrium values for TSH and FT4, however with a different equation.
The Thyroid 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
from quantiles of FT4 and TSH concentration (as determined based on cumulative distribution functions).[30] Per definition the TFQI has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 0.37 in a reference population.[30] Higher values of TFQI are associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, impaired renal function, diabetes, and diabetes-related mortality.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] TFQI results are also elevated in takotsubo syndrome,[37] potentially reflecting type 2 allostatic load in the situation of psychosocial stress. Reductions have been observed in subjects with schizophrenia after initiation of therapy with oxcarbazepine, potentially reflecting declining allostatic load.[38]
Lower limit
Upper limit
Unit
–0,74
+0.74
Reconstructed set point
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 personal set 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]
Effects of drugs
Drugs can profoundly affect thyroid function tests. Listed below is a selection of important effects.
Effects of some drugs on Tests of Thyroid function[49][23][50]
↑ 21.021.1"Influence of low protein diet on nonthyroidal illness syndrome in chronic renal failure". Endocrine27 (3): 283–8. August 2005. doi:10.1385/ENDO:27:3:283. PMID16230785.
↑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.
↑"Resistance to thyroid hormone caused by two mutant thyroid hormone receptors beta, R243Q and R243W, with marked impairment of function that cannot be explained by altered in vitro 3,5,3'-triiodothyroinine binding affinity". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.82 (5): 1608–14. 1997. doi:10.1210/jcem.82.5.3945. PMID9141558.
↑"Five new families with resistance to thyroid hormone not caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta gene". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.84 (11): 3919–28. 1999. doi:10.1210/jcem.84.11.6080. PMID10566629.
↑ 30.030.130.2Laclaustra, M; Moreno-Franco, B; Lou-Bonafonte, JM; Mateo-Gallego, R; Casasnovas, JA; Guallar-Castillon, P; Cenarro, A; Civeira, F (February 2019). "Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormones Is Associated With Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome.". Diabetes Care42 (2): 303–310. doi:10.2337/dc18-1410. PMID30552134.
↑"Schilddrüsenhormonresistenz und Risiko für Diabetes und metabolisches Syndrom". Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel14 (2): 78. 16 April 2019. doi:10.1055/a-0758-5718.
↑Paschou, Stavroula A.; Alexandrides, Theodoros (19 October 2019). "A year in type 2 diabetes mellitus: 2018 review based on the Endorama lecture". Hormones18 (4): 401–408. doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00139-z. PMID31630372.
↑Guan, Haixia (April 2019). "Mild Acquired Thyroid Hormone Resistance Is Associated with Diabetes-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the General Population". Clinical Thyroidology31 (4): 138–140. doi:10.1089/ct.2019;31.138-140.
↑Lou-Bonafonte, José Manuel; Civeira, Fernando; Laclaustra, Martín (20 February 2020). "Quantifying Thyroid Hormone Resistance in Obesity". Obesity Surgery30 (6): 2411–2412. doi:10.1007/s11695-020-04491-7. PMID32078724.
↑Aweimer, A; El-Battrawy, I; Akin, I; Borggrefe, M; Mügge, A; Patsalis, PC; Urban, A; Kummer, M et al. (12 November 2020). "Abnormal thyroid function is common in takotsubo syndrome and depends on two distinct mechanisms: results of a multicentre observational study.". Journal of Internal Medicine289 (5): 675–687. doi:10.1111/joim.13189. PMID33179374.
↑Zhai, D; Chen, J; Guo, B; Retnakaran, R; Gao, S; Zhang, X; Hao, W; Zhang, R et al. (1 December 2021). "Oxcarbazepine was associated with risks of newly developed hypothyroxinemia and impaired central set point of thyroid homeostasis in schizophrenia patients.". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology88 (5): 2297–2305. doi:10.1111/bcp.15163. PMID34855997.
↑Andersen, S; Pedersen, KM; Bruun, NH; Laurberg, P (March 2002). "Narrow individual variations in serum T(4) and T(3) in normal subjects: a clue to the understanding of subclinical thyroid disease.". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism87 (3): 1068–72. doi:10.1210/jcem.87.3.8165. PMID11889165.
↑Larisch, R; Giacobino, A; Eckl, W; Wahl, HG; Midgley, JE; Hoermann, R (2015). "Reference range for thyrotropin. Post hoc assessment.". Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear Medicine54 (3): 112–7. doi:10.3413/Nukmed-0671-14-06. PMID25567792.
↑Sim, Jia-Zhi; Zang, Yu; Nguyen, Phi-Vu; Leow, Melvin Khee-Shing; Gan, Samuel Ken-En (December 2017). "Thyroid-SPOT for mobile devices: personalised thyroid treatment management app". Scientific Phone Apps and Mobile Devices3 (1): 4. doi:10.1186/s41070-017-0016-y.
↑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 Investigation44 (5): 969–977. doi:10.1007/s40618-020-01390-7. PMID32808162.
↑Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 5th edition. Elsevier Saunders. 2012. p. 1920. ISBN978-1-4160-6164-9.