Abstract
Modern day evaluation of thyroid disorders requires a combination of accurate clinical judgement and reliable, sensitive, and specific thyroid functions tests. Principle among the latter are thyroxine (T4) 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Also playing an important role in special situations are free thyroxine, an assessment of bound and unbound thyroid-binding globulin, TRH stimulation, long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS), antibodies to thyroid hormone and to thyroid receptors. Basic to interpretation of these tests in the clinical setting is a comprehension of the relationship of the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the thyroid gland as well as a knowledge of the peripheral metabolism of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The role of each of these laboratory tests in the evaluation of hyper- and hypometabolic states, their alteration in nonthyroid and other endocrine disorders, and the effects of environmental and physiological factors on these tests are reviewed.
MeSH terms
-
Adult
-
Aged
-
Autoantibodies / immunology
-
Calcitonin / physiology
-
Choriocarcinoma / physiopathology
-
Female
-
Fetus / physiology
-
Hepatitis / physiopathology
-
Humans
-
Hyperthyroidism / diagnosis
-
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects
-
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
-
Hypothyroidism / diagnosis
-
Infant, Newborn
-
Kidney Diseases / physiopathology
-
Male
-
Mental Disorders / physiopathology
-
Middle Aged
-
Pregnancy
-
Stress, Physiological / physiopathology
-
Thyroglobulin / physiology
-
Thyroid Diseases / diagnosis*
-
Thyroid Diseases / physiopathology
-
Thyroid Function Tests*
-
Thyroid Gland / drug effects
-
Thyroid Gland / immunology
-
Thyroid Gland / metabolism
-
Thyroid Gland / physiology*
-
Thyrotropin / metabolism
-
Thyrotropin / physiology
-
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / physiology
-
Thyroxine / physiology
-
Triiodothyronine / metabolism
-
Triiodothyronine / physiology
-
Triiodothyronine, Reverse / metabolism
Substances
-
Autoantibodies
-
Triiodothyronine
-
Triiodothyronine, Reverse
-
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
-
Thyrotropin
-
Calcitonin
-
Thyroglobulin
-
Thyroxine