1
|
Markantes GK, Dimitropoulos K, Mamali I, Tseti I, Sakellaropoulos G, Markou KB, Michalaki MA. Therapeutic Equivalence of a New Preparation of Liquid Levothyroxine with Tablets in Patients with Overt Primary Hypothyroidism. Eur Thyroid J 2021; 10:59-64. [PMID: 33777820 PMCID: PMC7983587 DOI: 10.1159/000508216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A new liquid levothyroxine (LT4) dissolved in glycerol and water has recently been developed by a Greek pharmaceutical company (Uni-Pharma, Athens, Greece). OBJECTIVES To evaluate the therapeutic equivalence of this new liquid LT4 preparation versus the already existing tablet formulation of the same manufacturer, in order to obtain approval by the Greek National Organization for Medicines. METHODS This was a prospective, randomized, cross-over phase III study. The study included 50 patients (9 men and 41 non-pregnant women, with a mean age of 42.5 ± 12.5 years), with documented overt primary hypothyroidism. All subjects were well controlled on substitution therapy with various LT4 formulations. None of the patients had known LT4 malabsorption. The patients were randomized into 2 groups (A and B). The individuals of group A initially received T4® tablets for 10 ± 2 weeks and subsequently switched to T4® drops (100 μg/mL solution) at the same dose for another 10 ± 2 weeks. In group B, the reverse procedure was followed. Total T3 (T3), free T4 (fT4), and TSH were measured in all participants at enrollment and at the end of each 10 ± 2-week trial period. RESULTS Out of the 50 recruited patients, 6 were lost to follow-up and 5 were excluded due to non-compliance with the study protocol. In the 39 patients who completed the study, the serum TSH levels after 10 ± 2 weeks of treatment either with T4® tablets or with T4® drops did not differ (1.759 ± 1.104 vs. 2.076 ± 1.334 mIU/L, mean ± SD). CONCLUSIONS In hypothyroid patients, the new liquid LT4 preparation (T4® drops) is therapeutically equivalent to the tablet form (T4® tablets).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios K. Markantes
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Dimitropoulos
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| | - Irene Mamali
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| | | | | | - Kostas B. Markou
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
- *Kostas B. Markou, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Rio-Patras, GR–26500 Patras (Greece),
| | - Marina A. Michalaki
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chung CW, Mo EY, Jung GS, Kim YH, Cho SW, Park DJ, Bae JM, Park YJ. Decreased Expression of Ileal Thyroid Hormone Transporters in a Hypothyroid Patient: A Case Report. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:664839. [PMID: 34122338 PMCID: PMC8187942 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.664839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malabsorption of levothyroxine (LT4) is a common problem faced in clinical practice. It is usually solved, if there are no complexities including gastrointestinal absorption disorder, by taking medicines on an empty stomach and avoiding foods interfering with LT4. Herein we present a rare case of a patient exhibiting malabsorption of LT4 with decreased membranous expression of ileal transporters. CASE The 22-Year-old female presented with sustained hypothyroid status despite medication of 7.8 μg/kg LT4. Medical history and LT4 absorption test (the absorption rate 8.4%) excluded pseudomalabsorption. No organic gastrointestinal disorder was found in the patient by blood chemistry, endoscopies, and abdominal computed tomography scan. The immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased membranous expression of LAT1 and LAT2 in distal ileum and ascending colon in the patient compared to 20 controls who have no thyroid disease. The expression of MCT8 in colon appeared at both nucleus and brush border in the patient, while it was limited to brush border in controls. The expression of other transporters was similar between the patient and controls. CONCLUSION The changes of the expression of LAT1 and LAT2 in this patient showing LT4 malabsorption might help to understand the role of intestinal transporters in the absorption of LT4 in humans. The functional relevance of the decrement of LAT1 and LAT2 in this patient remains to be elucidated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chae Won Chung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Young Mo
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Gyung Seo Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoo Hyung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Wook Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Do Joon Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong Mo Bae
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Young Joo Park, ; Jeong Mo Bae,
| | - Young Joo Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Young Joo Park, ; Jeong Mo Bae,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Azizi F, Amouzegar A, Mehran L, Abdi H. LT4 and Slow Release T3 Combination: Optimum Therapy for Hypothyroidism? Int J Endocrinol Metab 2020; 18:e100870. [PMID: 32636887 PMCID: PMC7322563 DOI: 10.5812/ijem.100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Levothyroxine (LT4) is recommended as replacement therapy for thyroid hormone deficiency. However, some hypothyroid patients receiving LT4 therapy do not feel as well as healthy subjects. This article aimed to review current knowledge regarding LT4 monotherapy versus LT4+LT3 combination therapy and propose future directions regarding LT4+slow release T3 combination treatment for hypothyroidism. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We searched PubMed and Scopus using related keywords. RESULTS The LT4 monotherapy causes higher serum free T4 (fT4), subnormal serum free T3 (fT3), and fT3/fT4 ratio in one-fourth of patients. The LT4+LT3 combination therapy increases serum T3 and fT3 concentrations and may normalize the fT3/fT4 ratio. However, the primary outcomes, including thyroid hormone deficiency, anxiety, depression, and quality of life, may not be better in LT4+LT3 combination therapy than in LT4 monotherapy. Recent surveys show that combination therapy is on the rise, in particular, due to patient demand. The LT4 plus slow-release LT3 preparation has shown promising results in improving serum thyroid hormone concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The beneficial effect of LT4+LT3 combination therapy is not clear, and the safety of long-term therapy is yet under question. More scientific well-designed research projects are required in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fereidoun Azizi
- Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Amouzegar
- Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Corresponding Author: Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ladan Mehran
- Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hengameh Abdi
- Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cesur M, Akcil M, Ertek S, Emral R, Bulut S, Gullu S, Corapcioglu D. Role of cytological characteristics of benign thyroid nodules on effectiveness of their treatment with levothyroxine. Arch Med Sci 2013; 9:1083-9. [PMID: 24482654 PMCID: PMC3902726 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2013.39796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 08/15/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Levothyroxine (LT4) therapy has been used for the treatment of euthyroid nodular goiter, but there are controversial results about its usefulness. We aimed to evaluate the possible role of benign nodules' cytological characteristics in response to LT4 therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 93 patients with 128 nodules were included in the study; 74 of the nodules were treated with LT4 (group 1), and 54 of them had no medication (group 2). The subgroups consisted of adenomatous nodules, colloid nodules and cystic nodules. RESULTS In group 1, mean thyroid volume and mean nodule volume were reduced significantly (p = 0.002 and p = 0.022, respectively) with low-normal level thyrotropin (TSH) suppression (between 0.3 mIU/ml and 1.0 mIU/ml), while there were no significant changes in group 2. When we evaluated changes of the initial and last nodule volumes in cytological subgroups, only colloid nodules in group 1 had significant reduction (p = 0.040) and the others had no significant changes. By omitting the colloid nodules, when the other nodules were revaluated, there were no significant changes in either group. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of these results, obtained from a large sample of Anatolian patients, it is possible that LT4 therapy leads to significant reductions of both thyroid volume and nodule size in colloid nodules, but not in other kinds of benign nodules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Cesur
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara Guven Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehtap Akcil
- Department of Statistics and Computer Science, Baskent University Faculty of Science and Letters, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sibel Ertek
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical Faculty, Ufuk University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Rifat Emral
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Safak Bulut
- Department of Pathology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sevim Gullu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Demet Corapcioglu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Devdhar M, Drooger R, Pehlivanova M, Singh G, Jonklaas J. Levothyroxine replacement doses are affected by gender and weight, but not age. Thyroid 2011; 21:821-7. [PMID: 21751885 PMCID: PMC3148125 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2011.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body weight (BW) and age have been shown to affect the dose of levothyroxine (LT(4)) that results in normalization of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in hypothyroid patients. Our objective was to determine whether gender, menstrual status, and ideal BW (IBW) also affect the LT(4) dose required to achieve a serum TSH within the normal range. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients being treated for primary hypothyroidism who had TSH values within a normal range. We selected patients aged 18-85 years who were taking LT(4) without any confounding medications, and who had no serious chronic conditions. Their LT(4) doses, referred to here as LT(4) dose requirements, based on both BW and IBW were documented. The relationship between gender, menstrual status, age, serum TSH concentrations, and the degree of overweight on LT(4) dose requirements were determined using multivariate analyses. RESULTS Women were significantly more overweight than men (ratio of BW/IBW was 1.35 for women vs. 1.17 for men, p <0.0001). LT(4) requirements based on BW did not differ by gender when age was included in the model. However, when degree of overweight was also included, men required lower LT(4) doses than both premenopausal women (1.34 μg/kg vs. 1.51 μg/kg, p = 0.038) and menopausal women (1.34 μg/kg vs. 1.49 μg/kg, p = 0.023). When examining IBW using a model incorporating age, men also required lower LT(4) doses than both premenopausal women (1.64 μg/kg vs. 1.92 μg/kg, p = 0.0033) and menopausal women (1.64 μg/kg vs. 1.90 μg/kg, p = 0.0024). Serum TSH concentrations were not significantly different in any of the gender groups. There was no relationship between serum TSH and either age or BW. The initial serum TSH concentration was by design with the normal range, but the concentration within that range was not a significant predictor of the LT(4) replacement dose in any of the models. CONCLUSION In contrast to previous studies suggesting that age affects LT(4) replacement requirements, we found that age-based differences in doses are secondary to differences in BW and gender. In addition, in contrast to prior studies showing that lean body mass, but not gender, affected LT(4) dose, we instead found a significant impact of gender. Gender-based differences in dose requirement only became apparent either when IBW was used to correct for the dose or when degree of overweight was included in the model. Gender differences in LT(4) dose requirement exist, but are masked unless gender-based differences in degree of overweight are also considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Devdhar
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Rebecca Drooger
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | - Gurdeep Singh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jacqueline Jonklaas
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
|
7
|
Ching GW, Franklyn JA, Stallard TJ, Daykin J, Sheppard MC, Gammage MD. Cardiac hypertrophy as a result of long-term thyroxine therapy and thyrotoxicosis. HEART (BRITISH CARDIAC SOCIETY) 1996; 75:363-8. [PMID: 8705762 PMCID: PMC484311 DOI: 10.1136/hrt.75.4.363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To define the effects of long-term thyroxine treatment upon heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular systolic function, and left ventricular size, as well as indices of autonomic function, and to compare findings with those in patients with thyrotoxicosis before and during treatment. DESIGN Cross sectional study of patients prescribed thyroxine long term (n = 11), patients with thyrotoxicosis studied at presentation (n = 23), compared with controls (n = 25); longitudinal study of patients with thyrotoxicosis studied at presentation and serially after beginning antithyroid drug treatment (n = 23). METHODS 24 h ambulatory monitoring of pulse and blood pressure, echocardiography, forearm plethysmography, and autonomic function tests. RESULTS Long-term thyroxine treatment in doses that reduced serum thyrotrophin to below normal had no effect on blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular systolic function or stroke volume index, but was associated with an 18.4% increase in left ventricular mass index (mean (SEM) 101.9 (3.09) g/m2 v controls 86.1 (4.61), P < 0.01). Thryoxine treatment, like thyrotoxicosis, had no effect on tests of autonomic function. Untreated thyrotoxicosis resulted in pronounced changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and an increase in heart rate during waking and sleep. Patients with thyrotoxicosis at presentation had an increase in left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction 70.5 (1.66)% v 65.4 (1.79), P < 0.01; fractional shortening 40.4 (1.54)% v 35.6 (1.46), P < 0.01), increased stroke volume index (45.9 (2.4) ml/m2 v 36.6 (1.7), P < 0.001), and an increase in forearm blood flow, and decrease in vascular resistance. They had a similar degree of left ventricular hypertrophy to that associated with thyroxine treatment (99.3 (4.03) g/m2); all changes were corrected within 2 months by antithyroid drugs. CONCLUSIONS The development of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients receiving thyroxine in the absence of significant changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and left ventricular systolic function is consistent with a direct trophic effect of thyroid hormone on the myocardium. The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy determines that further studies are essential to assess cardiovascular risk in patients taking thyroxine long term.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G W Ching
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|