Thyroid Suppression Test

Thyroid Suppression Test

When this type of medical investigation employs the use of triiodothyronine, the Thyroid Suppression Test is also commonly referred to as the T3 test. When the patient is administered thyroxine as part of the evaluation of his or her thyroid functions, the examination is called the T4 test. Such medical procedures are employed when a patient presents the symptoms that are commonly associated with hyperthyroidism. In certain cases, the patient may have to undergo several Thyroid Suppression Tests, separated by well determined time intervals; this is important in the monitoring of the patient’s thyroid condition and also in the monitoring of the effectiveness of the therapy course (against the thyroid disorder) that the individual is currently following. The T4 Suppression Test can be employed in the diagnosis of both hyper and hypo-thyroidism. In the case of pregnant females who are suffering from known affections of the thyroid gland, the physician will probably order the patient to undergo the T4 Thyroid Suppression Test for several times during the pregnancy. In the US there is a newborn thyroid hormone screening program for infants.

Thyroid Suppression Test Description

All patients must know that this test does not have a single number that separates the normal results from the abnormal ones. If you will check your lab report you will see that it includes a reference range (a range of numbers) for each age group, depending on the sex of the patient and on the method that the medical laboratory has used for the examination. Only your personal health care provider is able to set a diagnosis based on the results of your Thyroid Suppression Test.

The Thyroid Suppression Test requires a sample of the patient’s blood (the sample is generally taken from one of the individual’s veins, preferably from the back of the hand or from the inside of the elbow) after the area has been thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic substance. The medical specialist will wrap the patient’s upper arm with an elastic band, which will apply sufficient pressure to the area, making the vein more visible (the vein will be filled with blood and it will swell). Next, the medical professional gently inserts a sterile needle into the vein, collecting blood into a tube or an airtight vial (these gadgets must be attached to the needle). At this point, the medical professional will probably remove the elastic band from the patient’s arm. The needle is removed and the bleeding is stopped after a sufficient amount of blood has been collected.

If a young child or an infant is to undergo this type of medical procedure, the physician may want to employ a sharp medical tool (called a lancet) in order to draw enough blood. For further information about the medical technique that is employed during the Thyroid Suppression Test we strongly recommend you to refer to your medical prescriber. He or she will be more than happy to provide you with all the clinical data that you require.

The sample of blood is withdrawn after the patient is administered the T3 hormone for 7-10 days. A normal patient should present a reduction of the uptake of this hormone by the thyroid to less than 50% of the initial levels.

Thyroid Suppression Test Related Medication

As we have already mentioned in the previous chapter of our presentation, there are 2 types of Thyroid Suppression Tests. The first one involves the administration of the T3 hormone for a period between 7 and 10 days, and the second is based on the administration of T4 (another very important thyroid hormone) which is also administered to the patient, but in smaller amounts and in a smaller period of time.

Liothyronine Sodium is one of the most important triiodothyronine medical products available on the market. 95% of the total amount of this medication that has been administered is absorbed by the patient’s system. The protein binding of the active substance of this medication is of 99%. Like with most other medical products, the use of this medication (as part of the Thyroid Suppression Test routine) is associated with a number of contra-indications. For example, patients who are suffering from acute MI, hypo-adrenalism along with hypothyroidism (such a medical condition is commonly called Addison’s syndrome), and other similar products, should not be allowed to be treated with Liothyronine Sodium unless their therapy with this medication is preceded by the use of adrenocortical steroids. This product is a category A FDA pregnancy medical product.

It has been shown that a number of drugs can interact with the use of Liothyronine Sodium; here is a list of the most common classes of medication that can impair the results of your Thyroid Suppression Test: oral anticoagulants (the use of Liothyronine Sodium can increase their actions), digitalis glycosides (their effects are reduced by the use of the T3 hormone), beta blockers (their actions are reduced by T3), theophyllines, and so on. We strongly recommend you to seek further information about the most common products that can be employed during this type of medical diagnostic procedure from your PD or local pharmacist.