If you have been struggling with a thyroid disorder, your complete thyroid labwork may include reverse T3 (rT3) levels. I found monitoring rT3 levels to be helpful with treating challenging cases of thyroid disorders. Elevated rT3 levels are often a sign of weakened function by other organs that are important for thyroid hormone metabolism and function.

1) Adrenal Dysfunction

High rT3 levels are often a sign of underlying adrenal dysfunction. The thyroid is sensitive to changes in hormones that are secreted by the adrenal glands, which are most often caused by stress. Adrenal dysfunction changes the production of thyroid hormone. The thyroid produces mostly T4, which is converted to T3. The potency of T3 is higher than T4 so a sign of good thyroid health is T3 conversion.

2) Liver Dysfunction

The liver plays an important role in thyroid hormone conversion. Studies show that individuals with liver cirrhosis are likely to have elevated rT3 levels. It takes repeated incidences of liver damage over a long period of time to develop liver cirrhosis. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis includes liver function tests, imaging (abdominal MRI or CT), and a biopsy. Early signs of liver dysfunction can be detected by changes in liver enzymes that are included in a metabolic panel, which should be a part of your annual screening labwork.

The thyroid is only as good as its weakest link. If you are experiencing difficulty treating your thyroid disorder, it may be worth assessing adrenal and liver function as well.