A newborn with suspected hypothyroidism would most likely show which confirming lab finding?

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Multiple Choice

A newborn with suspected hypothyroidism would most likely show which confirming lab finding?

Explanation:
In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland isn’t making enough thyroid hormone, so the pituitary gland increases TSH to stimulate the thyroid. That feedback leads to a high TSH level, which is the best confirming sign in a newborn suspected of having hypothyroidism. Typically, thyroid hormone levels (T4 and T3) would be low, not elevated, so they don’t point to hypothyroidism. Elevated TBG wouldn’t indicate hypothyroidism either; it’s a transport protein and isn’t used to diagnose thyroid status. So the most likely confirming lab finding is an elevated TSH, often with low T4.

In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland isn’t making enough thyroid hormone, so the pituitary gland increases TSH to stimulate the thyroid. That feedback leads to a high TSH level, which is the best confirming sign in a newborn suspected of having hypothyroidism. Typically, thyroid hormone levels (T4 and T3) would be low, not elevated, so they don’t point to hypothyroidism. Elevated TBG wouldn’t indicate hypothyroidism either; it’s a transport protein and isn’t used to diagnose thyroid status. So the most likely confirming lab finding is an elevated TSH, often with low T4.

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