Does TSH level 5.6 and T4- 8.6 in a newborn need treatment?

Question

Hello doctor,

My son is 42 days old. His activities are normal, but his TSH level is 5.6 miu /ml and laboratory normal range is 4 to 8 miu/ml and his total T4 level is 8.6 mcg/dl and my laboratory normal level is, 4- to miu /ml. My doctor says that he is in borderline and needs treatment as the correlation between two hormone level is not correct. Is this true?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

TSH of 5.6 is high normal and T4 of 8.6 is fine. If this is the first time you are checking it, repeat after five days, do a free T3, free T4, and TSH next time. They are better interpreters. Correlation between the hormone levels seems to be fine. The condition which we are worried about is hypothyroidism, where the body has low T3 or T4, because of which TSH is high. Sometimes when the reports are difficult to interpret, it is always better to repeat and confirm.

Thyroid is concerned with overall development, especially of the brain, the early we start treatment, the better. But over treatment is also not advisable. So better repeat the test, if TSH is coming down, no need to start the treatment.