Pitfalls in the use of thyrotropin concentration as a first-line thyroid-function test.
Measurement of thyrotropin concentration alone as a first-line thyroid-function test fails to indicate hypopituitarism in a number of patients. Using a combination of thyrotropin and thyroxine assays, we analysed 56,000 tests for a population of 471,000 over 12 months. 15 patients with clinically unsuspected hypopituitarism were detected, indicating that the occurrence of hypopituitarism might be underestimated.
Wardle
C A
CA
Fraser
W D
WD
Squire
C R
CR
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine