TH-1. Hashimoto's Disease

The TH-1. Hashimoto's Disease panel contains 3 tests with 4 biomarkers.

Brief Description: The TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease panel is a basic diagnostic tool aimed at evaluating thyroid function, particularly in the context of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that is the leading cause of hypothyroidism. This panel includes three critical tests: T3 Free, T4 Free, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), each providing important insights into the thyroid gland's health and functionality.

Collection Method: Blood Draw

Specimen Type: Serum

Test Preparation: Specifc to TSH: Specimen collection after fluorescein dye angiography should be delayed for at least 3 days. For patients on hemodialysis, specimen collection should be delayed for 2 weeks.

According to the assay manufacturer Siemens: "Samples containing fluorescein can produce falsely depressed values when tested with the Advia Centaur TSH3 Ultra assay."

When and Why the TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease Panel May Be Ordered

Healthcare providers order the TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease panel for individuals presenting symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin, and hair loss, which may be indicative of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It is also used to monitor thyroid function in patients with a known diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease, especially when assessing the effectiveness of thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

What the TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease Panel Checks For

• T3 Free (Free Triiodothyronine): Measures the level of T3 that is unbound and freely available to body tissues, providing an indication of metabolic activity. In Hashimoto's disease, levels might be normal or low, depending on the disease's severity and thyroid function.

• T4 Free (Free Thyroxine): Evaluates unbound T4 levels in the bloodstream, offering insights into the thyroid gland's ability to produce thyroid hormone. Hashimoto's disease often results in decreased production of T4, leading to low levels in the blood.

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Produced by the pituitary gland, TSH regulates the thyroid gland's production of hormones. Elevated TSH levels are a hallmark of hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as the pituitary produces more TSH in an effort to stimulate the underactive thyroid gland.

Getting a Deeper Understanding of Your Thyroid Health

The TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease panel offers a foundational assessment of thyroid function, but more comprehensive panels provide a broader understanding of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its systemic effects.

• TH-2 Hashimoto's Disease Panel: This panel includes the basic thyroid tests and expands to assess overall health with a Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Hemoglobin A1c, and vitamin levels. It is suitable for patients needing a broader health evaluation to identify conditions that may coexist with or result from Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

• TH-3 Hashimoto's Disease Panel: Building upon the TH-2, the TH-3 panel adds specific thyroid antibody tests, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies, essential for confirming the autoimmune nature of Hashimoto's disease. The inclusion of vitamins B12 and B6 also helps in evaluating neurological health and metabolic function.

• TH-4 Hashimoto's Disease Panel: The most comprehensive option, TH-4 includes all tests in TH-3 and introduces TSH Receptor Binding Antibody and Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin tests, providing further insights into the autoimmune aspects and potential hyperthyroid phases of Hashimoto's disease, also known as Hashitoxicosis.

Conditions or Diseases the TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease Panel Can Check For

The TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease panel is primarily used to diagnose and manage Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Elevated TSH levels combined with low or normal free T4 levels can indicate hypothyroidism resulting from Hashimoto's disease. Early stages of the disease might show normal hormone levels but with the presence of thyroid antibodies (not covered in TH-1 but in more comprehensive panels).

Use of TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease Panel Results by Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals utilize the TH-1 panel results to diagnose hypothyroidism potentially caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, guide treatment decisions such as the initiation of thyroid hormone replacement, and monitor the effectiveness of existing treatments. The results help in adjusting medication dosages to maintain optimal thyroid hormone levels and ensure patient well-being.

The TH-1 Hashimoto's Disease panel plays a pivotal role in the initial assessment and ongoing management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, providing key insights into thyroid gland functionality. Through the measurement of critical thyroid hormones and TSH, healthcare providers can effectively diagnose, treat, and monitor Hashimoto's disease, ensuring tailored treatment strategies to address individual patient needs. For a more in-depth evaluation, particularly concerning the autoimmune nature and broader systemic impacts of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, expanded panels offer additional diagnostic capabilities and insights.

We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.