Recommendations for treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine and levotriiodothyronine: a 2016 position statement of the Italian Society of Endocrinology and the Italian Thyroid Association

B. Biondi, L. Bartalena, L. Chiovato, A. Lenzi, S. Mariotti, F. Pacini, Alfredo Pontecorvi, P. Vitti, F. Trimarchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Levothyroxine (L-T4) is recommended as lifelong replacement therapy for hypothyroidism. Recent clinical and experimental data support the addition of levotriiodothyronine (L-T3) treatment in some selected hypothyroid patients when their symptoms persist and their quality of life remains impaired despite adequate L-T4 monotherapy. An increase in L-T3 prescriptions has been recently observed in Italy due to availability of different L-T3 formulations, making it possible to clinicians to prescribe L-T3 alone or in combination with L-T4. The aim of the present position statement was to define the correct clinical indications, schedule, duration of treatment and contraindications of combined treatment with L-T4 and L-T3 in hypothyroid patients in an attempt to guide clinicians and to avoid potential adverse effects of overtreatment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1465-1474
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Endocrinological Investigation
Volume39
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Body weight
  • Clinical symptoms
  • Cognition
  • Deiodinases
  • Depression
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Heart rate and patient preference for combined therapy
  • Hypothyroidism
  • L-Thyroxine
  • L-Triiodothyronine
  • Mood
  • Polymorphism in type 2 deiodinase gene
  • Quality of life
  • Replacement therapy
  • TSH-suppressive therapy
  • Thyroidectomized patients

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