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. 1971 Mar 13;1(5749):582–585. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5749.582

Radioimmunoassay of Human Serum Thyrotrophin

Reginald Hall, Jacqueline Amos, Brian J Ormston
PMCID: PMC1795217  PMID: 5548300

Abstract

The double antibody radioimmunoassay of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) allows measurement of circulating levels of the hormone in most normal subjects. The serum TSH level in normal subjects is 1·6 ± 0·8μU/ml. Patients with non-toxic goitre and acromegaly have normal TSH levels. Values are always raised in hypothyroid patients (with primary thyroid disease) and are significantly lowered in those with hyperthyroidism. Of the many stimuli used in an attempt to raise TSH levels in normal adult subjects only three—synthetic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, ethinyloestradiol, and carbimazole plus iodides—have been effective. The major clinical application of the TSH immunoassay lies in the diagnosis of minor degrees of hypothyroidism. An impaired response of serum TSH to synthetic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone should also help in the diagnosis of hypopituitarism affecting TSH production.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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