Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Postpartum thyroiditis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sunny Kumar MD [2]

Overview

Overview

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of PPT depend on the phase of disease and include screening of serum TSH, serum free T4, serum free T3, serum anti-TPO anitbodies, serum TSH-receptor abs, serum ESR, serum thyroglobulin Tg and radio-iodine uptake. Some patients with PPT may have elevated concentration of serum anti-TPO abs, which is usually suggestive of future hypothyroidism.

Laboratory Findings

Laboratory Findings

Some patients with PPT may have elevated concentration of serum anti-TPO abs, which is usually suggestive of future hypothyroidism. Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of PPT depend on the phase of disease and include:[1][2][3]

Laboratory Tests Hyperthyroid phase Hypothyroid phase
Serum TSH Less than 3.5 micrograms/dl More than 3.5 micrograms/dl
Serum free T4 Elevated but may be normal Decreased
Serum free T3 Elevated or normal Decreased
Serum anti-Thyroid peroxidase anitbodies Positive Postive
Serum TSH-receptor abs Negative or positive with coexisting Grave’s disease Negative
Serum ESR Normal Normal
Serum thyroglobulin Tg Elevated in early phase of destruction of follicles Elevated in early phase of destruction of follicles
Radio-iodine uptake Decreased Decreased
References

References

  1. Muller AF, Drexhage HA, Berghout A (2001). “Postpartum thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis in women of childbearing age: recent insights and consequences for antenatal and postnatal care”. Endocr Rev. 22 (5): 605–30. doi:10.1210/edrv.22.5.0441. PMID 11588143.
  2. Argatska AB, Nonchev BI (2014). “Postpartum thyroiditis”. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 56 (3): 145–51. PMID 25434070.
  3. Stagnaro-Green A (2012). “Approach to the patient with postpartum thyroiditis”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 97 (2): 334–42. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-2576. PMID 22312089.

Template:WH Template:WS

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH