Deciphering Commonly Used Acronyms/In Reference to Thyroid Issues

used with permission from Jody

I’m posting this because I had a hard time when first diagnosed trying to learn the “lingo” of thyroid disease. I hope this helps those newly diagnosed!

ATD’s – anti-thyroid drug, a prescription drug used to lower the thyroid hormone levels and reduce antibodies in a hyperthyroid person (PTU, Tapazole, Methimazole, Carbimazole)

FT3 – Free T3 – Free or unbound Triiodothyronine. Free T3 is the active thyroid hormone that is available for use by cells.

FT4 – Free T4 – Free or unbound Thyroxine. Free T4 is the active thyroid hormone that is available for use by cells.

GD – Graves’ Disease

GO – Graves Ophthalmopathy, also known as TED (thyroid eye disease), GED (Graves Eye Disease), endocrine ophthalmopathy, dysthyroid orbitopathy and immune exophthalmos. GO is an autoimmune disorder independent of GD, although 33 percent to 50 percent of GO cases are seen in association with the thyroid disturbances characteristic of GD.

Hyper – hyperthyroid or overactive thyroid gland

Hypo – hypothyroid or underactive thyroid gland

MMI – Methimazole, another ATD, generic form of Tapazole

PTM – Pretibial myxedema, also known as infiltrative dermopathy and localized myxedema, is a skin disorder that typically affects the anterior surface skin of the lower legs in the pretibial area. PTM is usually confined to the pretibial area including the front of the lower legs, the top of the feet and the toes, although it may involve the arms, face, shoulders and trunk.

PTU – propylthiouracil, one anti-thyroid medication

RAI – radioactive iodine, also known as I-131

RAI-U – Radioactive Iodine Uptake and scan – a test done to measure the activity of the thyroid gland, test also used to show “hot” or “cold” nodules. Test consists of the patient ingesting a small amount of radioactive iodine then having a scan done typically 6 hours after ingestion and again at 24 hours after ingestion…also known as I-123. Generally this test is performed at the nuclear medicine department of a hospital.

T3 – Triiodothyronine, a thyroid hormone

T4 – Thyroxine, a thyroid hormone
TBII – TSH Binding Inhibitory Immunoglobulin – (generally used in reference to the TBII antibody test) – TBII is present in more than 90% of patients with active Graves’ disease. In some labs, TBII includes a measurement of both nuetral binding antibodies and TSI.

TPO – Thyroid Perioxidase – (generally used in reference to the TPO antibody test) – TPO antibodies are typically seen in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, a pituitary hormone that normally directs the thyroid to produce or release thyroid hormone.

TSI – Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin, (generally used in reference to the TSI antibody test) an antibody typically found/present in approximately 80% of patients with active Graves’ disease. TSI is the same as “stimulating TSH receptor antibody” (TRAb) and “thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin”

Many thanks to Elaine Moore for letting me use some of the definitions in her book “Graves’ Disease – A Practical Guide”