TY - JOUR

T1 - Neither Baseline nor Changes in Serum Triiodothyronine during Levothyroxine/Liothyronine Combination Therapy Predict a Positive Response to This Treatment Modality in Hypothyroid Patients with Persistent Symptoms

AU - Medici, Bjarke Borregaard

AU - la Cour, Jeppe Lerche

AU - Michaelsson, Luba Freja

AU - Faber, Jens Oscar

AU - Nygaard, Birte

PY - 2017/4

Y1 - 2017/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite biochemical euthyroidism, some levothyroxine (L-T4)-treated hypothyroid patients report persisting symptoms and some of these patients are tentatively treated with a combination of L-T4 and liothyronine (L-T3). Combination therapy and the appropriate choice of blood tests to monitor treatment are highly debated among specialists and patients.AIM: To evaluate whether measuring serum triiodothyronine (S-T3) at baseline or during combination therapy can be used as an indicator of a positive effect from L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study of patients (n = 42) with persisting symptoms of hypothyroidism despite L-T4 therapy who had normal TSH levels and did not have any comorbidities that could explain their symptoms. All were then treated with L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy at a dose ratio of 17/1 according to European Thyroid Association guidelines. Based on patient-reported outcome, they were divided into responders and nonresponders.RESULTS: Five patients were lost to follow-up and thus excluded. At the 3-month follow-up, 11 were classified as nonresponders and 26 as responders. At 12 months these figures had changed to 13 (35%) and 24 (65%), respectively. When comparing responders versus nonresponders, no differences were seen at baseline or during follow-up in S-T3 and in free T3 estimates. Further, logistic regression showed no correlation between S-T3 and free T3 estimates and responder/nonresponder status.CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that serum T3 measurements are not suitable to predict which patient will benefit from L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy, and treatment response cannot be followed by repeated T3 measurements either.

AB - BACKGROUND: Despite biochemical euthyroidism, some levothyroxine (L-T4)-treated hypothyroid patients report persisting symptoms and some of these patients are tentatively treated with a combination of L-T4 and liothyronine (L-T3). Combination therapy and the appropriate choice of blood tests to monitor treatment are highly debated among specialists and patients.AIM: To evaluate whether measuring serum triiodothyronine (S-T3) at baseline or during combination therapy can be used as an indicator of a positive effect from L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study of patients (n = 42) with persisting symptoms of hypothyroidism despite L-T4 therapy who had normal TSH levels and did not have any comorbidities that could explain their symptoms. All were then treated with L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy at a dose ratio of 17/1 according to European Thyroid Association guidelines. Based on patient-reported outcome, they were divided into responders and nonresponders.RESULTS: Five patients were lost to follow-up and thus excluded. At the 3-month follow-up, 11 were classified as nonresponders and 26 as responders. At 12 months these figures had changed to 13 (35%) and 24 (65%), respectively. When comparing responders versus nonresponders, no differences were seen at baseline or during follow-up in S-T3 and in free T3 estimates. Further, logistic regression showed no correlation between S-T3 and free T3 estimates and responder/nonresponder status.CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that serum T3 measurements are not suitable to predict which patient will benefit from L-T4/L-T3 combination therapy, and treatment response cannot be followed by repeated T3 measurements either.

U2 - 10.1159/000454878

DO - 10.1159/000454878

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28589090

VL - 6

SP - 89

EP - 93

JO - European Thyroid Journal

JF - European Thyroid Journal

SN - 2235-0640

IS - 2

ER -