Posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 13:40:55
Interesting article relating to hormone testing besides the traditional T3/T4 testing.
TRH testing:
This testing is to get the blood sample to test the serum TSH basic figure. After injecting 500ug of TRH in vein, then get serum again after 30min and 60min to test TSH again. The normal person after 40 years old can increase 2-5 times or at least 6uU/ml. Female is sensitive than male. The reaction of 40 years old male is much slower, and 2uU/ml for them is normal. hypothyroidism is not sensitive for such testing. This testing is very helpful to hypothyroid patients who do not have much increased serum thyroid incretion. 80% Graves who only is incretion related and do not have clinic hypothyroidism also do not have reaction to the TRH. The hypothyroidism is sensitive of the TRH reaction. But it is not necessary for them to have the test since the TSH figure can be the index of hypothyroidism. TRH testing can judge the pathological changes of recurring hypothyroidism which is in pituitary or the below part of thalamencephalon.Thalamencephalon hypothyroidism presents lingering reaction. But pituitary hypothyroidism reaction will decrease. Estrogen, alkaline and anti-hypothyroid medicine can strengthen the reaction to TRH. But thyroid preparation and L-dopa can restrain the reaction of TRH. Within 2 min after the TRH injection, about half patients can have rose-cheeked, naupathia and emiction. According to what said before, TRH testing is replaced by the high sensitive TSH testing.
http://www.greenlife-herbal.com/Series_products/1/FAQ_2.htmAnother interesting article:
Thyroid tests, especially the TRH test, can aid psychiatrists in the same way that laboratory tests are used in other medical specialties. Such tests augment clinical judgment and provide information about possible primary thyroid disturbances. The TRH test has the added value of prognostic significance when repeated after a course of treatment. Thyroid tests may also identify subgroups of depressed patients who can benefit from thyroid hormone replacement or who require T3 potentiation of tricyclics, as well as those patients with bipolar illness who are hypothyroid and may be at risk for rapid cycling.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3079751&dopt=AbstractPlus
poster:rina
thread:783475
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070911/msgs/783475.html