Expert: Karen Brawner - 7/20/2004

Question
I have the following results from my thyroid panel:

Total T4=8.2 (normal)
T3U=42.8 9 (high)
Free Thyroxine Index=11.70 (high)

Do you see any significance to these values? I have an autoimmune disease (celiac sprue) that not infrequently is associated with other autoimmune diseases, particularly thyroid disease. My gastroenteroligist ordered these tests at my request but I'm not sure he will know whether or not those two high values are high enough to be significant as this is not his area of expertise.

Thanks

Answer
Dear Harry,   The values your doctor uses are not the same as my doctor uses and his lab does not use the Mosby's Lab test Reference....  However, just going by what this lab says is HIGH then you definately have a thyroid problem going on...

You are also right in saying that a gastroenterologist is NOT the doctor you should be seeing....  You need to see an Endocrinologist who is a doctor who specializes in the thyroid and all the other endocrine glands....  SO my suggestion would be to get an appointment with an endocrinologist, take the blood work results from the gastro doctor with you and have the endocrinologist do more blood work and find out exactly what your problem is...  There are MORE thyroid blood tests than just these 3 that need to be done....

The question now is which actually came first, the celiac sprue or the autoimmune thyroid disease....  It really dosen't matter other than the fact that one will and often does cause the other.....  In your case, you definately need to see an endocrinologist and the endocrinolgoist needs to work hand-in-hand with your gastroenterologist so you get the best treatment for both autoimmune conditions.....

Thank you,   karen