Analysis of laboratory values
August 21, 2014 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. David Meyer
Hello everyone,
I need help interpreting my blood test results. Please see attached.
Thank you very much for your help.
Dear questioner,
Weight gain in your case can indeed be associated with thyroid disease. However, the calorie intake you described would not lead to a weight gain of 20kg. You can calculate your basal metabolic rate, for example, with the following simplified formula: 25kcal times weight (kg) per day. Or you can search the internet for the Mifflin-St.Jeor formula for a more accurate result. Physical activity, including at work, of course increases your energy needs. This way, you could achieve further weight loss.
Regarding your lab results:
- Triglycerides 97.6 mg/dl - very good value.
- Cholesterol 388 mg/dl - significantly elevated. Threshold below 240 mg/dl.
- HDL cholesterol 59.5 mg/dl - borderline.
- LDL cholesterol 297 mg/dl - significantly elevated. Threshold below 160.
- Cortisol 4.59 μg/dl - normal. The time of collection should be known.
- Cortisol after Dexa below 1 μg/dl (see above)
- DHEAS 553 μg/dl - slightly elevated, but the diagnosis of an adrenal disease cannot be confirmed based solely on this lab value.
- FT3 3.12 pg/ml - slightly decreased, but each lab has different reference ranges, so this value could still be considered normal.
- FT4 1.31 ng/dl - well adjusted.
- Insulin 9.4 μg/dl - normal (fasting value).
- TSH 0.711 mIU/ml - normal, well adjusted.
- a-TPO 4.35 IU/ml - negative. (Not necessarily elevated in Hashimoto's)
- a-Tg 18.12 IU/ml - negative.
- ACTH 14.13 pg/ml - Time of collection is important. However, normal.
Based on the lab parameters, your thyroid seems to be well adjusted. However, regular follow-up is necessary for these parameters, as surely discussed with your doctor. From the lab parameters alone, there is no apparent reason for your weight gain or high cholesterol levels.
It is possible that you were not fasting long enough before the blood draw, or there may be a familial hypercholesterolemia. If, despite well-adjusted thyroid parameters, healthy diet, and correctly performed blood draw (16h fasting), such high values persist, you should discuss treatment options with your doctor to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Best regards,
D. Meyer
