What is the Clinical Role of Oral Liquid Preparations in the Treatment of Patients With Hypothyroidism?

Abstract

Fallahi et al ( 1. Fallahi P. Ferrari S.M. Antonelli A. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism while in therapy with tablet LT4, the liquid LT4 formulation is more effective in restoring euthyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2017; 23: 170-174 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar ) have performed an interesting observational, prospective study assessing the ability of comparable levothyroxine doses of tablet and liquid preparations in lowering serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism who are not ingesting potentially interfering medications and do not have gastrointestinal disorders that might potentially interfere with levothyroxine absorption. The authors ( 1. Fallahi P. Ferrari S.M. Antonelli A. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism while in therapy with tablet LT4, the liquid LT4 formulation is more effective in restoring euthyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2017; 23: 170-174 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar ) studied hypothyroid individuals who were taking stable levothyroxine doses and had serum TSH concentrations ≤3 μU/mL on at least two separate determinations within 2 years prior to the study or serum TSH level at least 4 μU/mL or higher (assessed within 1 month prior to the study) in conjunction with normal serum free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) on two different occasions. They ( 1. Fallahi P. Ferrari S.M. Antonelli A. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism while in therapy with tablet LT4, the liquid LT4 formulation is more effective in restoring euthyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2017; 23: 170-174 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar ) appropriately excluded patients who had Helicobacter pylori or atrophic gastritis, previous gastric or intestinal surgery, or bariatric surgery. Fallahi et al ( 1. Fallahi P. Ferrari S.M. Antonelli A. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism while in therapy with tablet LT4, the liquid LT4 formulation is more effective in restoring euthyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2017; 23: 170-174 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar ) did an excellent job of examining and detailing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, even investigating unexplained anemia or dyspepsia and also performed serum antibody measurements to help exclude undiagnosed celiac disease and measured H. pylori antigen in feces. Patients taking medications that are known to interfere with levothyroxine absorption were also excluded.