Thyroid - Ex 4 Flashcards
T3 and T4 - which is active form? which is more common in blood?
T3 is active form, responsible for negative feedback mechanism to pituitary and hypothalamus
T4 is major secretory product of the normal thyroid gland and is found in higher amounts in bloodstream
Serum T3 & T4
Free (active) and protein-bound (inactive)
Albumin is major protein that binds
Thyroid Hormone Functions
- inc basal metabolic rate
- inc O2 consumption
- inc HR
- inc catabolism of fat and muscle
- inc protein synthesis
- inc erythropoiesis (may affect CBC results)
- inc sensitivity to catecholamines (may affect CBC results)
- Critical for development of differentiation of cells
Canine Hypothyroidism
Most COMMON endocrinopathy in dogs!!
- middle aged dogs
- mid to large sized breeds
Canine Hypothyroidism clinical signs
Dermatologic: alopecia, pyoderma, otitis, etc.
Metabolic: lethargy, inactivity, weight gain
Neuromuscular: weakness, ataxia
Canine Hypothyroidism - Lab Abnormalities
- Hypercholesterolemia (>75% of dogs)
* Mild, non regenerative anemia –> BM can get affected; thyroid hormones are needed for proliferating cells
Pathogenesis of Hypothyroidism
- Congenital - abnormal thyroid development (RARE)
- Acquired:
- Primary: thyroid gland doesn’t produce hormone
- -95% of cases
- Secondary: Pit gland doesn’t produce TSH
- Tertiary: Hypothalamus doesn’t produce TRH
Thyroid Tests - Total T4
- Serum or plasma
- Normal thyroid function = frequently low T4 –> if low you can’t rule out hypothyroid
- Good for excluding hypothyroidism (if normal)
Thyroid Tests - Free T4
Most accurate in canine testing
If a patient is hypothyroid - what would you expect?
T4 to be low
T3 to be low
TSH to be high (primary acquired hypothyroid patient)
Thyroid Tests - Total T3 & free T3
Not recommended as sole test
Often within normal limits in hypothyroid dogs
Thyroid Tests - cTSH
Not good as single test
Hypothyroid dogs can have normal cTSH
&
Euthyroid dogs can have elevated
Whats the best combo of tests to dx hypothyroid in dogs?
fT4 & cTSH
TSH should be high and T4 should be low –> in true hypothyroid patient
More thyroid tests - TSH stimulation
TSH stimulation –> give dog TSH –> T4 production should increase in healthy dogs; in hypothyroid animals T4 remains low
Now uncommonly used
Equine Hypothyroidism
More likely to occur in foals –> rare in adults