TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

The thyroid-stimulating hormone is the best and most common test to check the possibility of thyroid disease in the context of nonexistent dysfunction of the pituitary gland. If this test gives normal values, 0.450−4.500 μIU/mL (>10 yr old) it means that the TSH levels are in the normal range.

An increased level of TSH may suggest that the pituitary gland sends a message that the deficit thyroid does not produce enough hormones which leads to hypothyroidism.

By comparison, if the TSH level is very low, it means that a higher number of hormones was produced and you may suffer from hyperthyroidism.

Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine Test)

The test for this hormone is usually useful to determine whether a patient suffers from hyperthyroidism or not. Normal levels for T3 lie between 100 and 200 ng/Dl.

Whenever you are facing symptoms such as constipation, anxiety, depression, dry skin, increased heart rate, or sleeping disorders, a test may be required.

Free T4 (Free Thyroxine Test)

The thyroid gland secretes and produces T4 which is well known as thyroxine. The thyroxine binds with the proteins and arrives in your tissues throughout the bloodstream.

Further on, the T4 and the proteins split and T4 becomes free to convert itself in T3, a more active form. In general, doctors recommend testing both TSH and free T4 to get to a clearer picture in case of hypothyroidism. The reference interval for this indicator is 0.82-1.77 ng/dl (>19 years old).

TPO antibodies (TPO-Ab)

TPO antibodies are created when the immune system of a person targets by pure error elements of the thyroid gland or protein, leading to chronic thyroid inflammation, tissue damage, and damage to the thyroid function. Leaving this untreated may cause severe health issues. The determination of TPO antibody levels is the most sensitive test for detecting autoimmune thyroid disease (eg, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, idiopathic myxedema, and Graves disease) and detectable concentrations of anti-TPO antibodies are observed in most patients with these disorders. The highest TPO antibody levels are observed in patients suffering from Hashimoto thyroiditis. In this disease, the prevalence of TPO antibodies is about 90% of cases, confirming the autoimmune origin of the disease. These autoantibodies also frequently occur (60%–80%) in the course of Graves disease.