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What Causes Elevated Thyroid Levels?

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Posted on Thu, 10 Mar 2016
Question: Hello, My wife is 28 years old. She was diagnosed with Hypertension 4 months ago & is taking medications, i.e. NEXOVAS 10 & CTD T 12.5/40. One & half months ago she was diagnosed with asymptomatic gallstones. We went for Laparoscopic surgery for the same, but it was postponed in the final hours because of her elevated thyroid.

Then we went to another doctor (MD Medicine) for consultation, he suggested us to wait for 15 to 20 days & redo some blood tests. He also said, this elevation thyroid may be due to throat infection or cough & cold. He didn't prescribe any medication for the elevated thyroid.

So, we redo 3 blood tests, i.e. T4, TSH & ANTI TPO. But again we got some elevated reading. I have attached those recent blood reports along with this question.

Please let me know, what is the cause behind this thyroid elevation? is this serious or life threatening condition? What is the best treatment for this problem?

Waiting for your valuable response.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Suresh Heijebu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please reupload the test reports.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Mr XXXX.

I can certainly understand your concerns.

I worked through your query in detail.

I am unable to witness your reports. They are shown blank.Kindly reupload them.

I can certainly guide you after going through the reports.

Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Suresh Heijebu (6 hours later)
Hello Dr XXXXXXX I am writing down the reports.

SERUM FREE T4 is 0.74ng./100ml (ref range 0.70 - 1.48ng./100ml)

SERUM TSH is 25.53 micro IU/ml (ref range 0.35 - 4.94 micro IU/ml).

SERUM ANTI TPO ANTIBODY is >1000 IU/ml (ref range <5.61 IU/ml.

Hope this will work doctor. Please let me know what is your suggestion?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Suresh Heijebu (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Possible Hypothyroidism due to hashimoto's disease.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

I apologize for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.

I have worked through your reports.

These reports suggest a possible autoimmune thyroid disorder(hypothyroidism) most likely to be Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Having said that, It requires histological confirmation through needle examination of thyroid.For this, I advise your wife to go for FNAC examination.

This isn't a serious or a life threatening condition.

It may require treatment with oral steroids(short course) and thyroxine hormone(for extended periods, probably lifelong).

This is not related to throat infection or cough/cold.

Simultaneously it advisable to check for other tests like Lipid profile and Complete blood counts.

Once FNAC results, are out treatment can be initiated.

Gallstones can be operated once thyroid hormone levels are normalised with therapy.

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.








Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Suresh Heijebu (25 minutes later)
Okay Doctor. As FNAC is a type of biopsy, are you suspecting any type of malignancy? As a common person, while we hear about biopsy, our fear for malignancy arise. Does any type of malignancy also cause this type of blood reports?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Suresh Heijebu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
FNAC in her case was indicated only to confirm the diagnosis.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Mr Banerjee.

I can certainly understand your concerns.

Hashimoto's is a histological diagnosis, which means by examination of the thyroid tissue this diagnosis is usually made/confirmed.

Elevated TSH and Anti TPO are significant indicators of Hashimoto's disease.

But I asked only to confirm the diagnosis and be doubly sure of what I am treating.

FNAC is not truly a biopsy.It is needle examination of aspirated thyroid cells.

Although FNAC is used in ruling out malignancy, here I did not ask for this reason.My intention was to confirm Hashimoto's disease.(Since there can be numerous causes of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's is one such cause.My intention is to find out the cause and confirm it.)

Cancerous change is uncommon with your wife at her age.She is young.

Other malignancies do not cause this type of blood report.

However, in this context I would like to educate you further.
The risk for (papillary type) thyroid cancer is increased in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis after 2 decades of disease course(in early 40's of age).

But it does not mean that all females affected with Hashimoto's ultimately develop thyroid cancer.Only in such longstanding cases of hashimoto's, particularly in those show rapidly growing nodules in the gland require timely FNAC to either confirm or refute the malignancy at the earliest in order to proceed towards surgical removal of the thyroid gland in order to save the patient from developing cancer.


Overall, to conclude with early diagnosis, timely institution of levothyroxine replacement therapy, informed patient follow-up care, and attention to other attendant complications, the prognosis in Hashimoto thyroiditis is excellent, with patients leading a normal life.

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Suresh Heijebu

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 3646 Questions

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What Causes Elevated Thyroid Levels?

Brief Answer: Please reupload the test reports. Detailed Answer: Hello, Mr XXXX. I can certainly understand your concerns. I worked through your query in detail. I am unable to witness your reports. They are shown blank.Kindly reupload them. I can certainly guide you after going through the reports. Thank you