Low TSH with normal-to-low T4/T3? - Question and Answer Forum - Elaine Moore Graves' Disease and Autoimmune Disease Education

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Wednesday, February 08, 2012

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Welcome to The Q&A with Elaine Moore. Registered members are invited to ask any question of Elaine Moore on autoimmune diseases, Graves' disease, other thyroid diseases and subconditions, laboratory work, traditional and complementary medicine, triggers and environmental influences, thyroid and immune disorders in pets and animals, and other relevant areas of inquiry.

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Questions are answered solely by Elaine Moore, a medical writer and clinical laboratory scientist, MT, CLS, with more than 30 years of experience in immunology. Moore has also authored and edited over a dozen books in the area of health sciences and is an editor for McFarland Publisher's Health Topics Series.

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Low TSH with normal-to-low T4/T3?

7/17/2010 8:42 PM

switters

Joined: 4/9/2010

Posts: 5

Low TSH with normal-to-low T4/T3?

My wife has been diagnosed with Graves', and her symptoms are hyperthyroid. However, despite low TSH levels her T4 and T3 consistently test in the normal or even low-normal range. I can't figure out an explanation for this. Can you?

7/18/2010 6:25 PM

Elaine

Joined: 8/1/2008

Posts: 3174

Re: Low TSH with normal-to-low T4/T3?

Hi Switters,

Normal thyroid hormone levels and low TSH occur in a condition called subclinical hyperthryoidism. If thryoid antibodies are also present, this would be subclinical Graves' disease. Subclinical disorders aren't usually treated because they can resolve as easily as they can progress, and treatment could cause thyroid hormone levels to fall too low.

Avoiding environmental triggers, particularly avoiding iodine-rich processed foods can reduce symptoms. If symptoms are troublesome, some doctors prescribe beta blockers like propranolol to resolve them. See my articles on subclinical hyperthyroidism on this site and on suite101. Best, Elaine

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Low TSH with normal-to-low T4/T3?

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