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FAMILIAL DYSALBUMINAEMIC HYPERTHYROXINEMIA INTERFERES WITH CURRENT FREE THYROID HORMONE IMMUNOASSAY METHODS

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Khoo, Serena 
Lyons, Greta 
McGowan, Anne 
Oddy, Susan 

Abstract

Familial dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH), most commonly due to an Arginine to Histidine mutation at residue 218 (R218H) in the albumin gene, causes artefactual elevation of free thyroid hormones in euthyroid individuals. We have evaluated the susceptibility of most current free thyroid hormone immunoassay methods used in the UK, Europe and Far East to interference by R218H FDH. Methods: Different, one- and two-step immunoassay methods were tested, measuring Free T4 (FT4) and Free T3 (FT3) in 37 individuals with genetically-proven R218H FDH. Results: With the exception of Ortho VITROS, FT4 measurements were raised in all assays, with greatest to lowest susceptibility to interference being Beckman ACCESS > Roche ELECSYS > FUJIREBIO Lumipulse > Siemens CENTAUR > Abbott ARCHITECT > Perkin-Elmer DELFIA. Five different assays recorded high FT3 levels, with the Siemens CENTAUR method measuring high FT3 values in up to 30% of cases. However, depending on the assay method, FT4 measurements were unexpectedly normal in some, genetically-confirmed, affected relatives of index FDH cases. Conclusions: All FT4 immunoassays evaluated are prone to interference by R218H FDH, with their varying susceptibility not being related to assay architecture but likely due to differing assay conditions or buffer composition. Added susceptibility of many FT3 assays to measurement interference, resulting in high FT4 and FT3 with non-suppressed TSH levels, raises the possibility of R218H FDH being misdiagnosed as Resistance to Thyroid Hormone beta or TSH-secreting pituitary tumour, potentially leading to unnecessary investigation and inappropriate treatment.

Description

Keywords

Humans, Hyperthyroxinemia, Familial Dysalbuminemic, Immunoassay, Thyroid Function Tests, Thyroid Hormones, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine

Journal Title

European Journal of Endocrinology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0804-4643
1479-683X

Volume Title

182

Publisher

BioScientifica Ltd.
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (210755/Z/18/Z)
Medical Research Council (G0600717)
MRC (MC_UU_00014/5)
Medical Research Council (G0600717/1)
Research is supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust (210755/Z/18/Z to KC) and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (CM, MG, KC).