American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Use of Laboratory Tests in Thyroid Disorders

Martin I. Surks, Inder J. Chopra, Cary N. Mariash, John T. Nicoloff, David H. Solomon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

257 Scopus citations

Abstract

Selection of appropriate laboratory determinations will enable the clinician to diagnose thyroid dysfunction readily in the majority of patients. At the present time, estimation of free thyroxine and a "sensitive" thyrotropin assay are recommended as the principal laboratory tests for thyroid disease. A decrease in serum free thyroxine estimate and a raised level of serum thyrotropin confirm the diagnosis of hypothyroidism caused by thyroid gland failure. An increase in free thyroxine estimate combined with a serum sensitive thyrotropin level suppressed to less than 0.1 mU/L establishes the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. In sick patients, a normal or raised serum free thyroxine estimate together with a normal level of serum thyrotropin suggests that the patient has neither hypothyroidism nor thyrotoxicosis. Patients with severe illnesses, generally in the intensive care unit, and those treated with certain drugs, as well as individuals with unusual thyroid disorders, may present with confusing laboratory findings. An understanding of the regulation of the thyroid hormone system and/or judicious consultation with an endocrinologist should enable the clinician to diagnose thyroid disease, if present, in such patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1529-1532
Number of pages4
JournalJAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume263
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 16 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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