Table 2.
Patient Characteristics of the Studies Included in the Systematic Review
| Study | Sample size (n) | Age (years) | Women (%) | Were all patients euthyroid at TH discontinuation | LT4 dose at discontinuation (mcg/day) | Treatment duration (years) | Thyroid antibodies TPO and/or anti-TG Ab (%) | Goiter (%) | Heterogeneous gland (%) | Family history of thyroid disease (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children and adolescents | ||||||||||
| Sklar (37) | 16 | — | — | Unclear | Median 2.2 | — | 100 | — | — | |
| Battelino et al. (25) | 29 | Mean 14.9 Range 8.5–19.7 |
79 | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wasniewska et al. (36) | 69 | 9.4 (4.0) Range 2.1–14.9 |
75.4 | Yes | — | 2 | 7.2a | 0 | 7.2 | — |
| Radetti et al. (26) | 148 | — | 82.6 | No | — | 4.1 (2.6) Range 1–12 |
100 | — | 100 | 47.7 |
| Children, adolescents, and adults | ||||||||||
| Takasu et al. (39) | 92 | Range 14–68 | 90.2 | Yes | — | Mean 3.8 Range 1–8 |
100 | 100 | — | — |
| Takasu et al. (35) | 21 | 31 [12–72]b | 85.7 | Yes | — | Range 1.5–7 | — | 33.3 | — | — |
| Fava et al. (38) | 14 | 18 [8–26]b | 78.6 | Yes | 1.26 (0.3)c | 6.4 [2.8–12.4]b | — | 42.9 | 100 | 21.4 |
| Adults | ||||||||||
| Krugman et al. (29) | 14 | Range 17–68 | 71 | Unknown | — | Range 0.4–22 | — | 21.4 | — | — |
| Ohsawa et al. (30) | 24 | — | 100 | Unknown | LT4: 200 LT3: 50 |
Range 0.1–5 | — | 100 | — | — |
| Rizzolo et al. (41) | 22 | — | — | Unknown | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nikolai (34) | 49 | Mean 52 Range 23–81 |
79.6 | Unclear | — | Range 0.5–3 | — | 38.8 | — | — |
| Rieu et al. (33) | 20 | — | — | Yes | — | 1 | — | 100 | — | — |
| Comtois et al. (32) | 79 | 39 (13) Range 17–64 |
91 | Yes | 110 (30) Range 50–150 |
1 | — | 55.7 | — | 44 |
| Carlwe et al. (40) | 13 | Mean 43 Range 28–60 |
92 | Yes | 109 [75–162)] | — | — | — | — | — |
| Höfling et al. (31) | 20 | 42.1 (11.6) | 100 | Yes | Mean 90.00 [CI 70.87–109.13] | 4.52 (3.47) | 90a 80d |
25 | 100 | — |
| Rosario and Calsolari (27) | 182 | 42 [19–63]b | 100 | Yes | Range 25–100 Range 0.3–1.5c |
3 [2–6.8]b | 55a | — | 23.1 | — |
| Livadas et al. (24) | 291 | 48 (16.4) | 84 | Yes | 0.92 (0.42)c | Mean 8.1 Range 1–37 |
58 | 0 | 62 | 63 |
Results are mean (SD), unless otherwise indicated.
a
TPO Ab only.
b
Results are median [range].
c
Results are mcg/kg/day.
d
Anti-TG Ab only.
anti-TG Ab, anti-thyroglobulin antibody; CI, 95% confidence interval; LT3, liothyronine; LT4, levothyroxine; TH, thyroid hormone; TPO, thyroid peroxidase; TPO Ab, thyroid peroxidase antibody.