Articles Needed Showing New Ranges

[ampky]

My TSH is 4.6 and my doc isn't really concerned because she uses the old range for test results. I'm sure she won't just take my word for it when I tell her the new range max is 3.0. I need to back it up with research/articles. Can you please send me liks of any research shownig the new range is approved and should be used?

Thanks for your help!

[compnet]

Here you go:

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/newrange.htm

http://www.aace.com/public/awareness/tam/2004/tsh.php

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/labs2003.htm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/21/Fatigue-Dry-Skin-Gaining-Weight-See-Why-Youd-Better-Check-Your-Thyroid-.aspx

Good luck.

[blsdnsvd]

Thyroid Awareness Month 2003
TSH Level Explanation

Below is further explanation on AACE position on changing the TSH scores:

Until recently, physicians accepted the normal TSH range of 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L. Recent data suggest that normal serum TSH levels may have a narrower range. For example, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) guidelines believes that a sustained TSH level above 2.5 mIU/L might not be normal and that current TSH upper limits of >4 mIU/L are likely skewed by the inclusion of individuals with occult thyroid deficiency. The NACB guidelines were published in their entirety in the January issue of the Thyroid.

Last year an AACE task force reviewed available data and current trends in practice, and updated the AACE Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Evaluation and Treatment of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism published in the November/December 2002 issue of Endocrine Practice. The task force also suggested that in patients on thyroxine replacement therapy, which is stated in the guidelines as "The target TSH level should be between 0.3 and 3.0 uIU/mL". By inference, any patient with TSH outside this range has an "abnormal" level which should be carefully followed but not necessarily treated. Some authors, however, treat marginally abnormal TSH when coupled with positive TPO titers because of high conversion rates to clinical hypothyroidism. This area remains very controversial but other endocrine organizations such as The Endocrine Society and the American Thyroid Association are in agreement with the AACE position. This point of view was presented, along with the new AACE guidelines, to the public in January 2003 during AACE's annual Thyroid Awareness Month campaign.

[blsdnsvd]

It all depends on the labs that are doing the tests. They are all different and obviously are not up to date. If you are having hypo symptoms then she needs to recognize the symtoms. Don't give in....

[MissLisa82]

I totally feel your pain!  I am going to my Dr. on Wednesday armed with as much information as possible.  I have a TSH of 4.12 and the Dr. insists that is completely "Normal".  I sure don't feel normal though!  I also have been trying to conceive with no luck, and am sure this is at least part of the reawon.

So I am going to try to get him to run all the antibodies tests to prove to him what I am feeling is Hashi's.


Good Luck!

Here are some links to articles I am going to use, as well as the one listed above:

http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/tshtestwars.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003684.htm

[gimel]

Try this.
_______________________


Thyroid Endocrinologists High TSH TSH Test TSH Levels Thyroid
In the Fall of 2002, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) announced that what was normal the year before, thyroid-wise, would now be considered abnormal.

According to the AACE, doctors had typically been basing their diagnoses on the "normal" range for the TSH test. The typical normal reference range levels at most laboratories ran in the 0.5 to 5.0 range.

The new guidelines narrowed the range for acceptable thyroid function, and the AACE was encouraging doctors to consider thyroid treatment for patients who test outside the target TSH reference range of 0.3 to 3.0, a far narrower range. AACE believed that use of the new range would result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated.

At a press conference, Hossein Gharib, MD, FACE, and president of AACE, said: "This means that there are more people with minor thyroid abnormalities than previously perceived."

AACE estimates that the new guidelines actually double the number of people who have abnormal thyroid function, bringing the total to as many as 27 million, up from 13 million thought to have the condition under the old guidelines. These new estimates would make thyroid disease the most common endocrine disorder in North America, far outpacing diabetes.

AACE made the decision to narrow the range because of data suggesting many people may have low-level thyroid problems that could be improved with treatment and a narrower TSH range will give doctors reason to more carefully consider those patients.
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