How would you answer this question?
Which of the following laboratory findings is indicative of thyrotoxicosis?
a. Increased T3 level
b. Decreased T3 uptake ratio
c. Increased serum osmolality
d. Decreased urine osmolality
The correct answer is "a" increased T3 level.
Thyrotoxicosis can be a precursor to thyroid crisis and is diagnosed in part by evaluating for elevated triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels. Hyperthyroidism is caused by an inflammation of the thyroid resulting in the overproduction of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 that control metabolism, this condition is called thyrotoxicosis. An excessive release of thyoid hormones from the thyroid gland is also called thyrotoxicosis, but is not hyperthyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis can be caused by autoimmune disease, adenoma, or infection.
Hyperthyroidism increases metabolism and will result in tachycardia, hypertension and anxiety. Sounds a lot like a cardiovascular problem, doesn't it? The key differentiating symptom is fever. Due to hypermetabolism, the patient will have a fever, sometimes exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
When the hypermetabolism results in hypertensive crisis, the condition is called thyroid storm. Cardiovascular collapse can result from the hypermetabolic state using up glucose at the cellular level and cause bradycardia and hypotension -- signs of decompensation that can lead to death.
Radioactive iodine suppresses the thyroid gland and is helpful in many patients, but the definitive treatment would be surgical ablation of the thyroid.
Read more about thyrotoxicosis at eMedicine.com
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