Table | Hypothyroidism values

Table

When the thyroid gland values in the blood are examined, there are several blood values that are essential for the exact assessment of the disease. In most cases the attending physician receives a printout from the laboratory, on which a table with all interesting thyroid gland values is shown. In detail, these are the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, free T3 and T4 (fT3 and fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH value).

All these values allow an exact description of thyroid function and give an indication of the cause of any hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones can be bound to proteins or be free, whereby only free thyroid hormones take over the messenger function in the body. The TSH value describes the stimulation of the thyroid gland via the pituitary gland.

If there is primary hypothyroidism, T3, T4, fT3 and fT4 are decreased, whereas TSH is increased. If all values are decreased, there is secondary hypothyroidism. Since the reference values for the values can be different in each laboratory, it does not seem to be useful to give the values. However, in the table of thyroid values a laboratory specific reference value is usually given, which allows a conclusion about the individual situation of the thyroid gland.

Increased values

In so-called primary hypothyroidism, the TSH value is increased. TSH (thyrotropin) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and normally ensures that the thyroid gland is stimulated and then produces thyroid hormones.If the thyroid now produces too little thyroid hormone due to an autoimmune disease, iodine deficiency or other causes, the pituitary gland registers this and releases more TSH. Thus, an increased TSH level can be interpreted as a clear indication of an underactive thyroid gland, which is caused by the thyroid gland itself, whereby the pituitary gland is intact. The other thyroid gland values and hormones produced are usually lowered when the TSH value is increased at the same time.

Values too low

Hypothyroidism is defined by thyroid hormones that are lowered in the blood. If the thyroid gland is underactive, it can be assumed that the hormones T3 and T4, which are produced by the thyroid gland, are present in the blood in a reduced state. If the so-called TSH value is now also lowered, this indicates the presence of secondary hypothyroidism.

In this case, the pituitary gland produces too little TSH, which normally stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones. Without the TSH, too little hormone is produced secondarily. If all thyroid hormones are reduced and the TSH level is also reduced, a secondary hypothyroidism can be assumed.