What does suppressed tsh free t4 mean?!


Question: What does suppressed tsh free t4 mean?
?

Answers:

These are tests for thyroid function. Is your TSH and free T4 both suppressed?

The hypothalamus is part of the brain and produces TSH Releasing Hormone (TRH) which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland to release TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). TSH stimulates Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) activity to use iodine to create T4 and T3 hormones.

T4 is thyroid storage hormone and T3 is active thyroid hormone. "Free" is a better measurement than "total" as this measures unbound thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones travel through the bloodstream bound to proteins before they are released to enter into cells becoming unbound or free.

If the pituitary glands finds very little T4, it produces more TSH to tell the thyroid gland to produce more T4. If T4 in the blood stream goes above a certain level, the pituitary's production of TSH shut off.

TSH increases as T4 drops
TSH decreases as T4 rises

If your TSH level is suppressed (decreased), this indicates your thyroid gland is secreting too much T3 and T4, called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease - an autoimmune disease. Other medical causes of hyperthyroidism including Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune hypothyroidism - swings between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism), subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, nonautoimmune autosomal dominant hyperthyroidism, Plummer's disease, metastatic thyroid cancer and struma ovarii.

But if your TSH and free T4 are both suppressed, this indicates secondary hypothyroidism which is caused by impaired function of either the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

Thyroid function tests >>>
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochure…

RedAngel



Never heard of it.




The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories