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What Does This Blood Test Report Indicate?
Question: Hi Doc,
A year back my hair was falling out in clumps and i was having irregular periods , i was advised to get my thyroid checked. The report came as:
T3: 108.5 ng/100ml
T4: 6.7 ug/100 ml
TSH : 5.2 microlu/ml
I was told that i am borderline hypothyroid and dont need medication and to do a retest 3 months later . I never paid attention and never went for a retest.
Now a year later my hairfall is severe again and i have lost 50 % of the volume. I have done a retest , this time a more compreehensive one. Today i got my test results
Anti-TPO Antibodies- 7, came negative
TOTAL TRIIODOTHYRONINE (T3) C.L.I.A 118 ng/dl 60 - 200
TOTAL THYROXINE (T4) C.L.I.A 10.6 μg/dl 4.5 - 12.0
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) C.L.I.A 7.84 μIU/ml 0.30 - 5.5
FREE TRIIODOTHYRONINE (FT3) C.L.I.A 3 pg/ml 1.7 - 4.2
FREE THYROXINE (FT4) C.L.I.A 1.19 ng/dl 0.70 - 1.
should i go for a medication?
I am still borderline but my TSh has shot up quite a lot. This is concerning.Please help.
A year back my hair was falling out in clumps and i was having irregular periods , i was advised to get my thyroid checked. The report came as:
T3: 108.5 ng/100ml
T4: 6.7 ug/100 ml
TSH : 5.2 microlu/ml
I was told that i am borderline hypothyroid and dont need medication and to do a retest 3 months later . I never paid attention and never went for a retest.
Now a year later my hairfall is severe again and i have lost 50 % of the volume. I have done a retest , this time a more compreehensive one. Today i got my test results
Anti-TPO Antibodies- 7, came negative
TOTAL TRIIODOTHYRONINE (T3) C.L.I.A 118 ng/dl 60 - 200
TOTAL THYROXINE (T4) C.L.I.A 10.6 μg/dl 4.5 - 12.0
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) C.L.I.A 7.84 μIU/ml 0.30 - 5.5
FREE TRIIODOTHYRONINE (FT3) C.L.I.A 3 pg/ml 1.7 - 4.2
FREE THYROXINE (FT4) C.L.I.A 1.19 ng/dl 0.70 - 1.
should i go for a medication?
I am still borderline but my TSh has shot up quite a lot. This is concerning.Please help.
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
I see you TSH has risen but it is not worrisome enough to warrant treatment right away.
I suppose you have accidentally not typed upper limit of Free T4 on your most recent
blood test report. It appears to be normal though.
This is often described as Mild or Subclinical hypothyroidism ie an under-active thyroid state. There are limited situations where treatment for this is considered, either temporarily or for life.
Few examples are: IF
1 you are planning to get pregnant
2 if you have a neck swelling called goiter
3 if you have a string family history of 'hypothyroidism'
4 if you have abnormal cholesterol levels or heart disease
5 if you have difficulty conceiving
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine) Thyroid autoantibodies : Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
I see you TSH has risen but it is not worrisome enough to warrant treatment right away.
I suppose you have accidentally not typed upper limit of Free T4 on your most recent
blood test report. It appears to be normal though.
This is often described as Mild or Subclinical hypothyroidism ie an under-active thyroid state. There are limited situations where treatment for this is considered, either temporarily or for life.
Few examples are: IF
1 you are planning to get pregnant
2 if you have a neck swelling called goiter
3 if you have a string family history of 'hypothyroidism'
4 if you have abnormal cholesterol levels or heart disease
5 if you have difficulty conceiving
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine) Thyroid autoantibodies : Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you so much for the detailed explanation . But the hair fall i am having is actually very distressing and I cannot find any other other reason for this sudden hair fall other then the subclinical hypothyroidism. I can correlate it because prior to this I never had this severe shedding , but my dermatologist aggressively denies any connection between them, I asked whether I should get my hormonal profile but she is defiant on that as well. Kindly guide, other than the hairfall and a bit of weight gain I dont have any other physical manifestations of the ailment.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I suggest you run the tests mentioned above and the results may other possible resaons for your symptoms.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I suggest you run the tests mentioned above and the results may other possible resaons for your symptoms.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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