1. GHASSAN SHANNAN - BSc, PhD, Faculty of Pharmacy Dean, Arab International University, Damascus, Syria.
2. ADNAN ALKHATIB - MD. MSc. Consultant Clinical Pathology CEO. Alkhatib Medical Laboratory.
3. MOHMOUD ELIAS - IT Services Department, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology.
4. ZEINA S. MALEK - MD. MSc. Consultant Clinical Pathology CEO. Alkhatib Medical Laboratory.
5. Dr. NASSER THALLAJ - Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Quality Control Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab
International University, Damascus, Syria.
In Syria the establishment of population specific TSH reference levels is critical to accurate assessment of
thyroid disorders. Given the impact that age, sex and physiological variations can have on thyroid-
stimulating hormone levels, which is used as a key indicator of thyroid function, varying reference ranges
must be utilised for different groups of people. Given the significant ethnic and geographical variations
within Syria, using broad reference values may result in the incorrect diagnosis or inappropriate treatment
of patients. Since levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in blood change with age, age-specific ranges
must be established for this test. As individuals age, thyroid function declines. Given the effect of sex
steroids on thyroid physiology, the reference range for serum TSH levels needs to be established separately
for males and females. In contexts where healthcare facilities are insufficient, failure to consider these
differences can result in greater disparities in the population's health. Thyroid hormone levels can also be
influenced by various physiological changes, for instance variations in nutritional intake, the presence of
certain endemic diseases and the body's stress levels. This situation requires a diagnostic strategy that
takes account of these factors in order to improve the reliability of diagnosis of thyroid function. The creation
of local reference levels for thyroid-stimulating hormone in Syria will therefore ensure that medical
professionals are able to diagnose conditions with greater accuracy and provide relevant treatment. This in
turn would result in better health outcomes. Given the complex interplay of demographic factors influencing
thyroid health, standards tailored to specific populations are necessary to promote public health initiatives
and efficient resource allocation.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH); Reference Intervals (RIs); Population-Specific; Age and Sex Stratification; Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis; Diagnostic Accuracy.