Evaluating Thyroid Function: The Clinical Advisor

Laura M. Gunder, DHSc, MHE, PA-C, and Sara Haddow, MSA, PA-C

November 30, 2009

Myxedema is caused by the deposition of hyaluronic acid in patients with thyroid disease.

At a glance

• The serum thyroid-stimulating hormone is the best initial test of thyroid function.
• Abnormal protein levels can have significant effect on the total thyroxine (T₄) results.
• Subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism are exclusively laboratory diagnoses.
• Re-evaluate patients with subclinical hypothyroidism within three months of detection and then every six months.

Read the rest of this excellent article here:  The Clinical Advisor

I would like to point out that measuring TSH only is misleading for many, many patients, especially those who have had or still have a pituitary adenoma.   Also, anyone who has had surgery for a pituitary adenoma cannot rely on TSH values to determine hypothyroidism.