In Graves' disease, what is the typical pattern of TSH and free T4?

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Multiple Choice

In Graves' disease, what is the typical pattern of TSH and free T4?

Graves disease causes the thyroid to produce excess hormones (T4 and T3) due to stimulating antibodies. The excess circulating thyroid hormones feed back on the pituitary and suppress TSH secretion. So the typical lab pattern is a suppressed (low) TSH with elevated free T4 (often with or without high free T3). This distinguishes Graves from hypothyroidism, where TSH is high and free T4 is low, and from euthyroid states where both are normal.

Graves disease causes the thyroid to produce excess hormones (T4 and T3) due to stimulating antibodies. The excess circulating thyroid hormones feed back on the pituitary and suppress TSH secretion. So the typical lab pattern is a suppressed (low) TSH with elevated free T4 (often with or without high free T3). This distinguishes Graves from hypothyroidism, where TSH is high and free T4 is low, and from euthyroid states where both are normal.

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