Son's TSH Levels

[Kathy022]

My sons is overweight. I read where they have chanced the range of levels for the TSH, T3 and T4.  My son's TSH is 5.47.  I read the new level is 3.3.  He has dry skin and his hair falls out.  Also, he is always tired.  

I am getting very frustrated as the labs are using the old ranges and stating that he is normal.  Also because the labs state that he is within normal levels, they don't recognize it as being a problem.  

How can I find a Endocrinologist who recognizes the new range?

Thanks,
Kathy

[GravesLady]

The above is for a diagnose for hypothyroidism.

AACE has stated levothyroxine treating target  is  between 0.3 and 3.0.

[GravesLady]

Would you please give me websites of creditable medicals such as the below,  that states "3.0 is the maxium on the new scale".

As far as I know all the below are still recommending:

quote - TSH 2.5 - 4.5: May be due to minor technical problems in the TSH assay, circulating abnormal TSH isoforms, or heterophilic antibodies; normal individuals with serum TSH concentrations in this range would be misidentified as having hypothyroidism

TSH of 4.5 to 10 (Childrens TSH 6 to 10):  No routine levothyroxine treatment for patients with TSH levels between 4.5 and 10 mIU/L, but thyroid function tests should be repeated at 6- to 12-month intervals to monitor for improvement or worsening in TSH level. Early levothyroxine therapy does not alter the natural history of the disease,.........

or patients with TSH levels between 5 and 10 ccIU/mL in conjunction with goiter or positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (or both). These patients have the highest rates of progression to overt hypothyroidism.

TSH Higher Than 10 mIU/L Hypothyroidism Levothyroxine therapy is reasonable.

Data do not confirm clear-cut benefits for early therapy compared with treatment when symptoms or overt hypothyroidism develop. - unquote

"....TSH level should be measured in 6 to 8 weeks, and the levothyroxine dose should be adjusted as necessary.  The target TSH level should be between 0.3 and 3.0.....  Once a stable TSH level is achieved, annual examination is appropriate."



AACE Thyroid Guidlines ENDOCRINE PRACTICE Vol 8 No. 6 464 page 9 November/December 2002/2006  -  Clinical Implications of the New TSH Reference August 15, 2006 Presentation:  "TSH between 0.5 and 2.5-3.0 mIU/L is the recommended target for L-T4 replacement dose adjustment."
US Government 2004 Guidelines
UK 2006 Guidelines,  
American Thyroid Association
The Endocrine Society -  Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. September 23, 2004 .  
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, David S. Cooper April 20, 2004
"(the panel concluded that the upper limit of normal for serum TSH should remain at 4·5 or 5 mU/l, and not be lowered to 3 or 3·5 mU/l as had been advocated by some professional organizations (Baloch et al., 2003))". Medscape Today
Thyro Link, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany 02.02.2005
American Family Physician  May 1, 2005
The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry hypothyroid 2006 guidelines
British Columbia Medical Association and adopted by the Medical Services Commission - Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee Effective Date: October 1, 2004 Revised Date: April 1, 2007

I thought the jury was still out!  

Thanks, GL

January is Thyroid Awareness Month, a month when various organizations put together informational efforts to help us all learn more about thyroid disease here in the U.S.

January is National Graves Disease Awareness Month
National Graves' Disease Awareness Week 1/7 thr 1/13

[kitty9309]

Your son's level is too high. Even on the existing reference range that sometimes goes up to 5.5, he is too close. Quest near me has lowered it to 4.5.

My new endo- thyroid specialist- is on the Top Docs list. Very well recommended. He said the reference range needs to be lowered to 2-2.5. He is in the Washington DC area.
How old is your son? He is symptomatic as well.

Most endos now go by the newer range. You can call around and ask- though it is a hassle.

[stella5349]

3.0 is the maxium on the new scale. Pretty much of them should be up to date even GP MD and others. Even at the old reference range he should be getting a physican to help him.