Question

A 19-year-old female complains of inereasing nervousness, tremors, weight loss and diarhea. Physical examination reveals somewhat protuberant eyeballs, giving her a startled appearance. Pulse is 86 , respiration and blood pressure are normal, a. The most prudent first stage laboratory workup would include what tests?

Answer 1

The prudent first stage laboratory workup for the symptoms described should include thyroid function tests, specifically TSH and free T4, to assess for hyperthyroidism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first stage laboratory workup for a young female presenting with symptoms of nervousness, tremors, weight loss, diarrhea, and protuberant eyeballs should include tests for thyroid function. These symptoms suggest hyperthyroidism, a condition characterized by an overactive thyroid gland, which includes elevated levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. The recommended tests would typically include measuring serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and often free thyroxine (T4). An abnormally low level of TSH in the presence of high levels of T4 usually indicates hyperthyroidism.