Which department should I go to for hypothyroidism examination

When there is a problem with the thyroid gland, it is generally called hypothyroidism. Don't ignore it thinking that the disease is not serious. You still need to go to the hospital for examination and treatment. But which department should you go to for examination of hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism belongs to the endocrinology department and is mainly caused by decreased thyroid function. This disease often occurs in newborns or middle-aged and elderly people, and general examinations can be used to determine whether a person has hypothyroidism.

Patients with hypothyroidism are advised to go to the hospital's endocrinology department for treatment. Hypothyroidism, abbreviated as hypothyroidism, is a disease caused by insufficient or lack of synthesis, secretion or biological effects of thyroid hormones, with hypothyroidism as its main feature. When the disease occurs, it manifests as growth and developmental retardation in the neonatal and fetal period, and intellectual disability becomes cretinism. The disease in adults is manifested by decreased systemic metabolism and deposition of intercellular mucopolysaccharides, which is called myxedema.

Depending on the primary cause, hypothyroidism can be divided into primary hypothyroidism, secondary hypothyroidism, sporadic hypothyroidism and peripheral tissue hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism is caused by thyroid lesions, secondary hypothyroidism is caused by pituitary deficiency, sporadic hypothyroidism is caused by hypothalamic TRH deficiency, and peripheral tissue hypothyroidism is caused by thyroid hormone receptors or post-receptor lesions.

What are the common tests for hypothyroidism?

1. General examination

Due to the lack of thyroid hormone, the synthesis of red blood cells is affected, the bone marrow hematopoietic function is reduced, and mild and moderate normocytic pigment anemia can be caused. Loss of blood and iron absorption due to menorrhagia can lead to hypochromic anemia. In a few cases, low stomach acid, internal deficiency, vitamin B1 or folic acid may cause macrocytic anemia. Blood glucose is normal or low, and blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and beta-lipoproteins are usually elevated.

2. Thyroid function test

(1) Elevated serum TSH (or sTSH) is the earliest manifestation of primary hypothyroidism. If TSH is elevated and T4 and T3 are normal, subclinical hypothyroidism is likely, and cord blood collection or neonatal blood, or amniotic fluid measurement of sTSH at 22 weeks of gestation may help diagnose neonatal and fetal hypothyroidism.

(2) Total T4 (or FT4) is less than total T3 (or FT3).

(3) A decrease in total T3 (or FT3) occurs only in late or severe cases.

(4) Serum rT3 decreases significantly due to the tendency of T4 to increase to T3 to compensate for hypothyroidism.

(5) Low iodine uptake by the thyroid gland.

3. Identification of lesions

(1) Serum TSH is increased in primary hypothyroidism, and hypothalamic-pituitary hypertrophy is usually reduced.

(2) TRH stimulation test: after intravenous injection of TRH 200-500 μg, serum TSH does not increase in those who respond, indicating a delayed increase in the pituitary and hypothalamus.

(3) Elevated serum T3 and T4, normal or elevated serum TSH baseline or response to TRH stimulation test, and no clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism, indicating peripheral thyroid hormone receptor-resistant hypothyroidism.

4. Reasons for inspection

Based on the medical history, blood tests for antibodies, such as thyroid microparticle antibodies and elevated thyroglobulin antibodies, indicate that primary hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune thyroid disease.

Hypothyroidism can cause many harms and even threaten the health of patients and friends. Therefore, we must understand hypothyroidism and conduct accurate examinations and scientific treatments after the disease is discovered. We should take measures to prevent hypothyroidism, understand the causes of the disease, develop good living and eating habits, and stay away from the harm of hypothyroidism.