Treatment for primary hypothyroidism: current approaches and future possibilities

Abstract

Primary hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease. Although the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism is often considered simple, there are large numbers of people with this condition who are suboptimally treated. Even in those people with hypothyroidism who are biochemically euthyroid on levothyroxine replacement there is a significant proportion who report poorer quality of life. This review explores the historical and current treatment options for hypothyroidism, reasons for and potential solutions to suboptimal treatment, and future possibilities in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

Introduction

Primary hypothyroidism or thyroid hormone deficiency due to abnormality in the thyroid gland is the most common endocrine disease. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the general population ranges from 3.8%–4.6%.1–4 The Whickham survey showed an annual incidence of hypothyroidism of 4.1 per 1000 in women and 0.6 per 1000 in men.2 Furthermore, a more recent study from the UK suggests that the incidence of hypothyroidism is rising,3 although there appears to be geographical variation. For example, epidemiological studies suggest Denmark has nine times fewer new cases of hypothyroidism than the UK.5 In the UK, over 23 million prescriptions for levothyroxine were written in 2010, making it the third most prescribed medication after simvastatin and aspirin.6

Diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism is often considered simple and is mostly carried out in a primary care setting. However, studies continue to show problems in the management of this condition. Many patients on thyroid hormone replacement are either under-replaced or over-replaced7–10 and a significant number of patients on thyroid hormone replacement report not feeling well despite having thyroid function tests within the healthy reference range.11 In this review, we discuss current approaches to the management of primary hypothyroidism and explore potential future developments.

Causes of primary hypothyroidism

In Western countries, the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis. However, in many parts of the world, iodine deficiency remains an important cause. Other common causes of hypothyroidism include thyroidectomy, radioiodine therapy, and drugs such as amiodarone, lithium, thionamide, iodine, interferon, sunitinib, rifampicin, and thalidomide. Transient hypothyroidism may occur in subacute (de Quervain’s) thyroiditis and also in postpartum thyroiditis. In both of these conditions 75%–85% of patients regain normal thyroid function.12 Congenital hypothyroidism, due to thyroid gland agenesis or dyshormonogenesis, affects about one in 4000 newborns and is the commonest congenital endocrinopathy.13

Diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism

The common clinical features associated with hypothyroidism are tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, cold intolerance, constipation, muscle weakness, puffiness around the eyes, hoarse voice, and poor memory. However, a study surveying thyroid disease in Colorado has shown that the sensitivity of individual symptoms ranges from 2.9% to 24.5%.7 Although the likelihood of hypothyroidism increases with increasing numbers of symptoms,7,14 absence of symptoms does not exclude the diagnosis. Furthermore, these symptoms are non-specific and common in the euthyroid population with around 20% of euthyroid subjects having four or more hypothyroid symptoms.7 Therefore, the diagnosis of hypothyroidism must be made biochemically.

Overt primary hypothyroidism is diagnosed biochemically with a serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration above the reference range and low free T4. If the TSH is raised but free T4 is in the normal range then this is referred to as subclinical hypothyroidism. The population reference range of TSH is around 0.4–4.5 mIU/L and most patients with overt hypothyroidism have TSH above 10 mIU/L. However, several controversies surrounding the TSH reference range have surfaced in recent years. Firstly, because the TSH in the general population is not normally distributed, and more than 95% of healthy individuals have TSH less than 2.5 mIU/L, it has been suggested that the upper limit of the TSH reference range may be skewed by occult thyroid dysfunction,15 leading to a debate whether the upper limit of the TSH reference range should be lowered from 4.5 to 2.5 mIU/L.16–18 Secondly, in pregnancy, it is now recognized that trimester-specific reference ranges for TSH should be used to assess thyroid function; when trimester-specific reference ranges are not available, TSH of 2.5 mIU/L in the first trimester and 3 mIU/L in the later trimesters are considered as the upper limits of the reference range.19,20 Thirdly, because the TSH distribution and reference limits are influenced by age and ethnicity, the use of age and race-standardized TSH reference ranges has also been suggested. 21 Finally, it has been shown that variation of TSH within an individual is narrower than the variation in the general population, supporting the concept of an individual reference range, such that a TSH level within the population reference range may still be abnormal for the individual.22 It is thought that genetic factors play a part in influencing the thyroid set-point in the individual. This is supported by studies showing associations between TSH and common variations in different genes, including PDE8B and TSHR,23–26 and a study showing that a common variation in the PDE8B gene influences TSH reference ranges in pregnant women.27

Treatment of primary hypothyroidism

Historical perspective

By the end of the 19th century, myxedema had been attributed to diminished thyroid function and a cretinism-like condition (also described as cachexia strumipriva) had been observed following thyroidectomy in animals and humans.28 Moreover, xenotransplantation of animal thyroid gland had been shown to improve symptoms in women suffering from myxedema temporarily. In 1891, Murray described the first regime of thyroid hormone replacement, subcutaneously injecting extract of sheep thyroid into a patient with hypothyroidism. 29 It was soon shown that oral administration of thyroid extract was as effective.30 In 1914, Kendall purified thyroxine crystals, which became commercially available. Harrington identified the structure of thyroxine in 1926 and synthetic thyroxine was available for clinical use by the 1930s. However, it took many more years before thyroxine became preferable to desiccated thyroid extract as the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism.28 In 1952, Gross and Pitts-River identified the more potent liothyronine.31

Dosage of levothyroxine

Levothyroxine is the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism. It has a 7 day half-life, allowing daily dosing.12 A randomized controlled trial has shown that, in patients with no significant comorbidities, initiation of levothyroxine at a full dose based on body weight (1.6 μg/kg/day) is safe, effective, and requires fewer resources than using a more traditional approach of starting with a small dose and gradually titrating upward.32 The exceptions to this are the elderly and patients with known ischemic heart disease (see the “Levothyroxine replacement in special circumstances” section of this review).

Timing of levothyroxine

Conventionally, hypothyroid patients are advised to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach half an hour before breakfast to prevent impairment of absorption by food. Several recent studies have looked at whether a bedtime dosage of levothyroxine is preferable. A small nonrandomized study involving eleven hypothyroid patients on a stable dose of morning levothyroxine found a decrease in mean TSH and an increase in free thyroid hormone levels when the timing of levothyroxine dosage was changed to bedtime.33 The same investigators, in a subsequent randomized double-blind crossover trial of 105 consecutive patients, have reaffirmed that biochemical control was best achieved by night-time dosing. Taking levothyroxine at bedtime resulted in a decrease in mean TSH of 1.25 mIU/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–1.89), and an increase in free T4 of 0.07 ng/dL (95% CI 0.02–0.13) and total T3 of 6.5 ng/dL (95% CI 0.9–12.1).34 However, there were no improvements in quality of life scores, blood pressure, or lipid profile. A retrospective study of 15 elderly patients in a nursing home showed a nonsignificant decrease in mean TSH of 0.29 mIU/L when the time of administration of levothyroxine was changed from early morning to midnight.35 In contrast, a randomized crossover trial in the US compared taking levothyroxine in the fasting state, with breakfast, or at bedtime in 65 patients with primary hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer, and found that TSH levels were significantly lower and less variable when levothyroxine was taken in the fasting state than at other times.36 Furthermore, Rajput et al randomized 77 patients with newly diagnosed autoimmune hypothyroidism to taking their levothyroxine half an hour before breakfast or two hours after their evening meal, and found no difference in TSH, lipid profile, clinical symptoms, quality of life scores, or the dose required to achieve euthyroidism between the two groups.37 The conflicting findings of different studies may reflect heterogeneity in the conditions of patients studied (for example, newly diagnosed patients versus patients on a stable dose of levothyroxine, and patients with thyroid cancer versus patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism) as well as in eating habits in relation to bedtime in the different study populations. Nevertheless, these studies suggest that bedtime dosing of levothyroxine could be tried as an alternative strategy in those patients who have problems in taking morning levothyroxine on an empty stomach.

Monitoring thyroid function during levothyroxine replacement

When initiating levothyroxine therapy, serum TSH should be measured to monitor for adequate replacement. TSH can take up to 4 months to normalize, even when starting on a full dose replacement regimen, due to thyrotroph hyperplasia. It is recommended that the TSH is measured 6–8 weeks after initiation of, or a change in levothyroxine dose. Once the patient is on a stable dose of levothyroxine, annual monitoring of TSH is recommended, although a retrospective study suggests that the monitoring interval could be safely increased to 18 months.38 Common causes of persistently elevated TSH in patients on levothyroxine replacement are shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Causes of persistently elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone in a patient on levothyroxine replacement

Inadequate levothyroxine dose Poor compliance with medication (biochemistry usually showing high thyroid-stimulating hormone with normal free T4) Interaction with concomitant drugs (see Table 2) Taking levothyroxine with food Malabsorption Coexisting celiac disease or autoimmune gastritis Interference with the laboratory assay due to heterophil antibodies Coexisting thyroid hormone resistance (rare)

Abbreviation: T4, thyroxine

It is generally recommended to aim for a TSH in the lower half of the normal range, ie, typically <2.5 mIU/L in patients with primary hypothyroidism on levothyroxine replacement.12,39 In a small study of 21 patients with primary hypothyroidism, titrating the dose of levothyroxine until the TSH was at the lower end of reference range or suppressed below the reference range was found to be associated with improved wellbeing in some patients.40 However, this observation was not confirmed by a double-blind randomized crossover trial, which has shown that small changes in levothyroxine dose to achieve a lower TSH do not result in an improved quality of life score.41 Furthermore, in a recent prospective study of 42 patients initiating levothyroxine treatment for newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism, there was no difference in lipid profile, body composition, or bone mineral density in patients maintained on low TSH (0.4–2.0 mIU/L) as compared with those maintained on higher TSH (2–4 mIU/L) for 12 months, although resting energy expenditure was higher in patients maintained on the lower TSH target.42 Finally, overtreatment with levothyroxine leading to a suppressed TSH of below 0.1 mIU/L has been shown to be associated with adverse skeletal health, particularly in the elderly (see below). Taken together, these observations suggest that the target TSH level for most nonpregnant patients with primary hypothyroidism on levothyroxine replacement should be the population reference range and one should not necessarily increase the dose of levothyroxine in asymptomatic people with a TSH in the upper half of the normal range.

Drug interactions with levothyroxine

Several medications, supplements, and food can interfere with the absorption and action of levothyroxine (Table 2). Common drugs that can affect levothyroxine absorption include iron, calcium, cholestyramine, and aluminum and levothyroxine must be taken at least 4 hours apart from these drugs. Enzyme inducers, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and rifampicin can increase the clearance of levothyroxine, necessitating an increased dose. Of women starting estrogen hormone replacement treatment, 35% were shown to need an increase in levothyroxine dose, thought to be due to increased thyroxine-binding globulin.43 It is noteworthy that hypothyroidism itself can lead to altered metabolism of medications, such that when rendered euthyroid, patients with hypothyroidism may need alterations in the dose of their medications. For example, initiation of levothyroxine in a hypothyroid patient may enhance the effect of warfarin, which may need dose adjustment.

Table 2.

Substances that interact with levothyroxine

Drugs and supplements that decrease the effect of levothyroxine

Reduced levothyroxine absorption

Iron

Calcium carbonate

Cholestyramine

Aluminum

Cimetidine

Sucralfate

Iodine (includes kelp tablets)

Selenium

Magnesium

Zinc

Soya

Fiber

Caffeine

Antacids

Increased levothyroxine clearance

Phenytoin

Carbamazepine

Phenobarbital

Rifampicin

Increased levothyroxine binding

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy

Drugs affected by levothyroxine

Drug effect enhanced by levothyroxine

Warfarin

Amitriptyline

Drug effect decreased by levothyroxine

Propranolol

Triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination therapy

A significant minority of hypothyroid patients treated with levothyroxine do not feel completely well and have a poorer quality of life.11 There are several possible causes for impaired wellbeing in these patients. Firstly, a number of them have a TSH outside the normal range, suggesting a suboptimal dosage of levothyroxine. Secondly, given that both hypothyroidism and dysphoria are common diagnoses, there will be a clinical overlap and thus symptoms attributed to hypothyroidism may not improve with treatment. Moreover, patients feeling unwell are more likely to seek medical advice and thus get their thyroid function tested. Thirdly, decreased wellbeing could be due to intrinsic autoimmunity irrespective of the patient’s thyroid status.44 Lastly, serum TSH may not accurately reflect thyroid hormone concentrations in all target tissues.45 In a community-based survey, patients on levothyroxine, despite having normal TSH, were found to have significantly reduced psychological wellbeing as compared with age-matched and gender-matched controls.11 Likewise, a cohort study showed poorer quality of life and decreased neurocognitive functioning in 141 hypothyroid patients on adequate doses of levothyroxine as compared with the general population.46 Indeed, many patients on levothyroxine do not achieve a physiological Free T3/Free T4 (FT3/FT4) ratio despite serum TSH being within the reference range,47,48 suggesting that hepatic and renal conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine may be impaired in these patients and this may account for the persistence of their symptoms. Furthermore, in thyroidectomized rats, tissue euthyroidism could be achieved by infusion of both levothyroxine and triiodothyronine and not by levothyroxine alone.49 These observations led to the hypothesis that a triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination is necessary to restore tissue euthyroidism in patients with hypothyroidism.

Several studies have evaluated triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination therapy in patients with hypothyroidism. An early study from Lithuania showed significant improvement in wellbeing when 50 μg of levothyroxine was replaced with 12.5 μg of triiodothyronine;50 however, several subsequent randomized controlled trials have failed to confirm this effect. A meta-analysis of eleven randomized controlled trials involving 1216 patients concluded that a triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination is not more effective than levothyroxine alone.51 Interestingly, patients in two trials reported a preference for combination therapy despite no objective improvement in wellbeing.52,53 A major limitation of these studies is that triiodothyronine in the current formulation does not result in a normal physiological profile and the triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination has been shown to be associated with wide fluctuations in FT3 levels.54 Furthermore, it is possible that combination therapy is effective only in a subgroup of patients. This is supported by a recent study, which showed that a common genetic variation in the deiodinase type 2 (DIO2) gene is associated with worse baseline quality of life scores in hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine and greater response to the combination therapy.55

Desiccated pig thyroid extract

Desiccated pig thyroid extract (Armour^® thyroid; Forest Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY) contains both thyroxine and triiodothyronine in a ratio of about 4:1. This is in contrast with human physiological thyroxine and triiodothyronine ratio of 14:1,56 and therefore the thyroid extract contains a supraphysiological amount of triiodothyronine. There is no clinical trial evidence to show that it is more effective than levothyroxine.

Triiodothyronine therapy

A recent randomized double-blind crossover trial has studied the effects of triiodothyronine versus levothyroxine in a cohort of 14 patients with primary hypothyroidism of various etiologies.57 Patients received triiodothyronine or levothyroxine three times a day to achieve a target TSH of 0.5–1.5 mIU/L. After 6 weeks of treatment, triiodothyronine was associated with reduced body weight and an improved lipid profile and had no effect on cardiovascular function, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life scores. Further studies with bigger sample sizes and longer follow-up are necessary before this regime could be adopted to treat a subgroup of patients with hypothyroidism in routine clinical practice.

Levothyroxine replacement in special circumstances

Subclinical hypothyroidism

Although subclinical hypothyroidism is a biochemical diagnosis characterized by raised TSH with normal serum thyroid hormone levels, many patients have nonspecific symptoms. Subclinical hypothyroidism is common in the general population (with a prevalence of 4%–8%) and the prevalence increases with advancing age.1,7 It can progress to overt hypothyroidism; the 20-year follow-up study of the Whickham survey has shown that 4.3% people with raised TSH and positive thyroid antibodies and 3% with raised TSH without antibodies develop overt hypothyroidism annually.2 However, a prospective study has shown that, in about 5% of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, TSH returns to normal after 1 year without any treatment.58 Likewise, in another large study, 51% of 3775 patients with TSH 5.5–10 mIU/L were found to have TSH levels within the reference range when tested 5 years later.59 Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations between subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment.7,60–62 A recent meta-analysis of individual data for over 55,000 subjects from eleven studies showed that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly if TSH is 10 mIU/L or higher.61 Although randomized controlled trials have shown a trend towards improved lipid profile, endothelial function, and echocardiographic features with levothyroxine treatment in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism,63,64 there are no studies to show that levothyroxine reduces cardiovascular events or mortality. Furthermore, a recent randomized controlled trial showed no evidence of improvement of cognitive function with levothyroxine treatment in elderly patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.65

Routine use of levothyroxine in subclinical hypothyroidism is controversial. An expert panel has supported the use of levothyroxine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism if TSH is higher than 10 mIU/L.66 Whilst subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women and women planning to conceive should also be treated with levothyroxine, great caution should be exercised when treating elderly patients with this condition (see below). In symptomatic patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and TSH below 10 mIU/L, a 3–6-month trial of levothyroxine is reasonable.39 In asymptomatic patients with TSH less than 10 mIU/L, TSH should be monitored annually in the presence of thyroid antibodies and every 3 years if thyroid antibodies are absent.67 A pragmatic algorithm for the management of subclinical hypothyroidism is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Algorithm for the pragmatic management of primary hypothyroidism.

Note: Reproduced from British Medical Journal, Vaidya B, Pearce SH, 337, 284–289, 2008 with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Abbreviations: TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; FT4, free thyroxine; TPO, thyroid peroxidase; mIU, milli-international unit.

Pregnancy

Thyroid hormones are essential for the neurological development of the fetus.68 Because the fetal thyroid gland starts functioning only after 12–14 weeks of gestation, the fetus relies on maternal thyroid hormones for its early neurological development. Both overt and mild thyroid hormone insufficiency in pregnancy has been shown to be associated with impaired neuropsychological development of the offspring.68–71 Furthermore, maternal hypothyroidism is also associated with several other adverse obstetric outcomes, including miscarriage, premature birth, gestational hypertension, and low birth weight72–75 and these adverse events may be prevented by optimum thyroid hormone replacement.76

Maternal hypothyroidism diagnosed in pregnancy should be corrected as soon as possible by initiating a full replacement dose of levothyroxine (100–150 μg/day or 2.0–2.4 μg/kg body weight/day).19 Most women with known hypothyroidism need a 30%–50% increase in the dose of levothyroxine during pregnancy77,78 and this increased dose requirement occurs as early as the first 4–6 weeks of gestation. 78 About a quarter of pregnant hypothyroid women on levothyroxine have high TSH, suggesting under-replacement at their first antenatal visit.79 This could, to some extent, be prevented by preconception optimization of levothyroxine dose80 and, for hypothyroid women planning pregnancy, levothyroxine dose ideally should be adjusted to keep TSH less than 2.5 mIU/L before conception. 19 Thyroid function should be checked as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed to adjust the dose of levothyroxine further. An alternative approach is to advise the woman to increase the dose of levothyroxine by 30%–50%77 or by two tablets per week81 as soon as pregnancy is confirmed to avoid any delay in dose increment. Thyroid function should be monitored at regular intervals (every 4–6 weeks) to adjust the dose of levothyroxine to keep TSH under 2.5 mIU/L in the first trimester and under 3.0 mIU/L in the second and third trimesters.19 Patients will need a reduction of their levothyroxine dose after pregnancy.

There is general consensus that subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women should also be treated with levothyroxine.19 However, whether all pregnant women should be screened for subclinical hypothyroidism remains controversial.19,79

Elderly

The levothyroxine dose requirement gradually decreases with age,82,83 thought to be due to age-related decreases in thyroxine degradation84 and in lean body mass.85 Furthermore, levothyroxine replacement may precipitate severe angina or myocardial infarction in an elderly person with asymptomatic ischemic heart disease. Therefore, in people over the age of 65 years, levothyroxine should be started at a small dose (25–50 μg/daily) and dose titration should be carried out slowly.

There is a high prevalence of suboptimal thyroid hormone replacement in the elderly. In a cross-sectional study involving elderly people aged 65 years or over on levothyroxine, 41% and 16% had suppressed and raised TSH suggestive of over-replacement and under-replacement, respectively.8 The risk of under-replacement of levothyroxine is less certain in this population, with studies showing an association between raised TSH and a lower mortality rate in the very elderly population.26,86,87 In contrast, the potential hazards of over-replacement of levothyroxine in the elderly population have been highlighted by the associations between suppressed TSH with reduced bone mineral density88,89 as well as increased risk of fractures.90 In a recent large cohort study of elderly people above the age of 70 years, levothyroxine treatment has been found to be associated with an increased risk of fractures.91 Although thyroid function tests were not analyzed in this study, there was a correlation between the risk of fractures and the dose of levothyroxine, suggesting that the increased fracture risk may be related to over-replacement of levothyroxine. Several epidemiological studies have also shown an association between low or suppressed TSH and atrial fibrillation.92–95 However, all of these studies, except the Framingham study,92 have excluded patients on levothyroxine and, therefore, it remains unclear whether suppressed TSH due to exogenous levothyroxine is as deleterious to the heart as endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism. Nevertheless, taken together, these observations underline the importance of careful monitoring and optimizing thyroid hormone replacement in the elderly with hypothyroidism.

Ischemic heart disease

Prolonged untreated hypothyroidism can lead to persistent bradycardia, an adverse atherogenic lipid profile, and deterioration in myocardial function. However, due to the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of thyroid hormone on the heart, starting a full dose of levothyroxine could precipitate acute coronary syndrome in hypothyroid patients with previously silent coronary artery stenosis.96 Therefore, newly diagnosed hypothyroid patients with ischemic heart disease should be started on a small dose of levothyroxine (12.5–25 μg/day) which is slowly up titrated every 4–6 weeks in increments of 12.5–25 μg/day until euthyroidism is achieved. Some patients may need to increase their antianginal medications to ensure full beta-blockade, or undergo a coronary revascularization procedure to be able to tolerate an adequate dose of levothyroxine to achieve euthyroidism.97 The suggested starting dose regimes of levothyroxine for primary hypothyroidism in different situations are shown in Table 3.

Table 3.

Suggested starting dose of levothyroxine for primary hypothyroidism in different clinical situations

Normal otherwise well patients	1.6 μg/kg body weight/day
Pregnant patients	2.0–2.4 μg/kg body weight/day
Elderly patients	25–50 μg/day
Patients with ischemic heart disease	12.5–25 μg/day
Patients on enzyme-inducing drugs	2.0 μg/kg body weight/day

Abbreviations: μg, microgram; kg, kilogram.

Poor compliance

In a subset of hypothyroid patients in whom poor compliance with daily dosing of levothyroxine is suspected, a onceweekly dosage of levothyroxine may be used as an alternative. In a randomized crossover trial involving 12 hypothyroid patients, once-weekly administration of seven times the normal daily dose of levothyroxine was shown to be effective and well tolerated.98 The study found a higher mean TSH level when patients were on a weekly regime compared with daily dosing, suggesting that a dose slightly higher than the calculated 7 day total may be needed to achieve optimum biochemical control on weekly regime. Because a high dose of levothyroxine may exacerbate angina or precipitate myocardial infarction, the weekly regime of levothyroxine is not appropriate for patients with ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, because the long-term adverse effects of a weekly levothyroxine regime are not known, it should be used only in exceptional cases of noncompliance after other approaches have failed.

Biochemically euthyroid patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism

Because symptoms of hypothyroidism are nonspecific, many patients have such symptoms without biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving 25 patients with symptoms of hypothyroidism but normal biochemistry showed no benefit from levothyroxine in improving wellbeing and cognitive function.99 Given that levothyroxine is an ineffective treatment and is associated with some adverse outcomes, it should not be used in these patients.

Future possibilities

After more than 120 years since Murray first successfully treated hypothyroidism with sheep thyroid extract29 and numerous subsequent advances in the field, there remain many uncertainties surrounding the management of this common disease. What is the target thyroid function for hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine replacement? What are the long-term outcomes of different target TSH levels on levothyroxine replacement? Should different age groups have different target TSH levels? Should individuals be assessed to determine their personal TSH reference range for future diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dysfunction? Does FT3/FT4 ratio provide additional information about tissue euthyroidism in patients on levothyroxine replacement? Furthermore, although there is increasing evidence from observational studies for an association between subclinical hypothyroidism and the risk of cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality, randomized controlled trial evidence showing that levothyroxine treatment reduces the risk is still lacking. Interestingly, subclinical hypothyroidism can be viewed as an incipient autoimmune disease that develops into overt hypothyroidism over many years. Identification of biomarkers that are better than current thyroid antibody assays at predicting eventual hypothyroidism could lead to targeted intervention to prevent hypothyroidism. Oral selenium supplementation appears to have efficacy in modifying the natural history of Graves’ orbitopathy,100 and may prove to have immunomodulatory actions in other forms of autoimmune thyroid disease. In pregnancy, results of ongoing and future clinical trials are awaited to inform whether all pregnant women should be screened and treated for subclinical hypothyroidism.

It remains uncertain as to why a minority of hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine continue to have residual symptoms despite apparently adequate replacement, and it is hoped that future studies will clarify this enigma. Moreover, despite several randomized controlled trials showing a lack of benefit of combining triiodothyronine with levothyroxine in such patients,51 it is possible that triiodothyronine formulated to mimic the normal physiological profile may have a better outcome. Indeed, a proof of concept study has demonstrated the biochemical efficacy of a combination of long-acting triiodothyronine and levothyroxine on the T4/T3 ratio and TSH over levothyroxine monotherapy.101 Further studies are required to see whether this biochemical advantage translates into clinical benefit. Finally, recent genetic studies have shown associations between common genetic variations and thyroid hormone levels,23–26,55,102 wellbeing in levothyroxine- treated patients,55 and response to triiodothyronine-levothyroxine combination treatment,55 opening the door to the possibility of pharmacogenomics. Future genetic studies may help in identifying the subgroup of patients who would benefit from combination therapy.