Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones regulate essential metabolic processes and development. The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis regulates hormone production, with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels being a key indicator of thyroid function in primary hypothyroidism. This therapeutics letter emphasises a TSH-...

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Main Authors: Anshula Ambasta, Guillaume Grenet, Jessica Otte, Wade Thompson, Kenneth Bassett, Thomas Perry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-06-01
Series:African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5043
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author Anshula Ambasta
Guillaume Grenet
Jessica Otte
Wade Thompson
Kenneth Bassett
Thomas Perry
author_facet Anshula Ambasta
Guillaume Grenet
Jessica Otte
Wade Thompson
Kenneth Bassett
Thomas Perry
author_sort Anshula Ambasta
collection DOAJ
description Thyroid hormones regulate essential metabolic processes and development. The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis regulates hormone production, with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels being a key indicator of thyroid function in primary hypothyroidism. This therapeutics letter emphasises a TSH-centred approach to the diagnosis and management of primary hypothyroidism (dysfunction at the level of the thyroid gland) in adults. It discourages routine thyroid function screening in asymptomatic individuals due to a lack of demonstrated benefit and potential harm from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. It outlines appropriate diagnostic strategies, including when to use TSH, free T4 (thyroxine), and free T3 (triiodothyronine) tests, and outlines indications for antibody testing. Special considerations are provided for subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism during pregnancy.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2071-2928
2071-2936
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
spelling doaj-art-8c2f2c3d4615411bb702d2f629e32d752025-08-20T03:29:10ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362025-06-01171e1e410.4102/phcfm.v17i1.50431273Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidismAnshula Ambasta0Guillaume Grenet1Jessica Otte2Wade Thompson3Kenneth Bassett4Thomas Perry5Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, VancouverThyroid hormones regulate essential metabolic processes and development. The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis regulates hormone production, with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels being a key indicator of thyroid function in primary hypothyroidism. This therapeutics letter emphasises a TSH-centred approach to the diagnosis and management of primary hypothyroidism (dysfunction at the level of the thyroid gland) in adults. It discourages routine thyroid function screening in asymptomatic individuals due to a lack of demonstrated benefit and potential harm from overdiagnosis and overtreatment. It outlines appropriate diagnostic strategies, including when to use TSH, free T4 (thyroxine), and free T3 (triiodothyronine) tests, and outlines indications for antibody testing. Special considerations are provided for subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism during pregnancy.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5043diagnostic testshypothyroidismmass screeningoverdiagnosisthyroid function testspregnancythyroid diseases.
spellingShingle Anshula Ambasta
Guillaume Grenet
Jessica Otte
Wade Thompson
Kenneth Bassett
Thomas Perry
Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
diagnostic tests
hypothyroidism
mass screening
overdiagnosis
thyroid function tests
pregnancy
thyroid diseases.
title Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
title_full Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
title_fullStr Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
title_full_unstemmed Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
title_short Thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
title_sort thyroid testing in primary hypothyroidism
topic diagnostic tests
hypothyroidism
mass screening
overdiagnosis
thyroid function tests
pregnancy
thyroid diseases.
url https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/5043
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AT wadethompson thyroidtestinginprimaryhypothyroidism
AT kennethbassett thyroidtestinginprimaryhypothyroidism
AT thomasperry thyroidtestinginprimaryhypothyroidism