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Whilst there are some patients who are mad there are some that really do seem to need T3. I have one patient (age 22) whose TSH remains > 100. On doses of up to 500mg of T4 there was no change but when given T3, she lost weight and began to resume normal activities [she can even make it to clinic on time now instead of turning up 3 hours late]. Even now on T3 her TSH has not dropped much but the obviously symptomatic hypothyroidism has resolved and she is much better. Biochemistry does not always give the right answers...
 



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Prof. Tim Reynolds
Consultant Chemical Pathologist / Clinical Director - Diagnostics / R&D Lead,
Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Salter Simon (ROYAL FREE LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)
Sent: 09 September 2014 4:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Low T3 syndrome

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During my short time in clinical biochemistry, I have seen a number of cases of patients desperate for their  FT3 to be measured and not being given it. Some of the comments on the article interesting…one particularly, which blames us lab staff for being part of the problem… “The arrogance of those running the laboratory service astounded me”

 

“Whilst the article points out "So, if your blood test doesn't show you to be low in T4, you won't be prescribed thyroid hormones that could alleviate your symptoms", there's a good chance that your local lab (which supposedly works for your Doctor) won't provide a T4 result. The testing laboratory have their own protocol which frequently means that if the TSH result is in the Normal Range (~ usually 0.3 to 5.0), then they routinely don't provide a T4 result let alone any of the other thyroid function tests. My result was just above the Reference Range and my own doctor asked three times for more than the TSH but was ignored and when I wrote to the Area Health Authority, I received a reply which said that my own doctor ought to know better than to ask. They said they had provided GP's with guidelines as to what they would test for and she should not have asked! The arrogance of the those running the laboratory service astounded me. “

 

When lab reports go directly to patients I imagine we will receive a significant number of calls from educated patients wanting FT4/FT3 measurements if they haven’t been given one.

 

Simon

 

 

From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Beresford
Sent: 09 September 2014 16:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Low T3 syndrome

 

Dear Mailbase,

 

We have received calls from GPs who have been approached by a number of patients regarding the article below, which was published in the Daily Mail last week.  

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2734215/Cold-hands-Always-tired-It-hidden-thyroid-problem-doctors-refuse-treat.html

 

The subject of the article is ‘Low T3 syndrome”, and it suggests to patients that they require FT3 measured routinely in addition to FT4, as well as opening up a debate with regards to treatment with T3.  The article quotes respectable Endocrinologists quoted both for and against (although I suspect some of their comments may have been taken out of context). 

 

I would be interested to know if others have also been approached in response to this article and what guidance has been given to GPs responding to these queries. 

 

The guidance documents available on the British Thyroid Association website (http://www.british-thyroid-association.org/Guidelines/ ) are very helpful, but recognising that this is a complex area I wonder if anyone is aware of any more recent evidence or guidelines about the role of T3 in the aetiology and treatment of hypothyroidism?

 

Best wishes

 

Peter

 

Peter Beresford

Consultant Clinical Scientist

Southmead Hospital

 


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------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk Green Laboratories Work http://www.laboratorymedicine.nhs.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk Green Laboratories Work http://www.laboratorymedicine.nhs.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/