Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Euthyroid state
Introduction
The state of having normal thyroid gland function. Found in 40-70% of hospitalised elderly patients. Due to chronic/severe illness or surgery, there is a marked decrease in the liver conversion of T4 to T3. This is because of the reduced activity of Type 1 deiodinase. The condition is characterised by a low plasma T3 despite a normally functioning thyroid.
Examples of a nonfunctioning thyroid gland may be hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism as opposed to euthyroidism, a functioning thryroid.