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

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.

• Authors: B Biondi, L Bartalena, L Chiovato, A Lenzi, S Mariotti, F Pacini, A Pontecorvi, P Vitti, F Trimarchi
• Journal: Journal of endocrinological investigation (J Endocrinol Invest) Vol. 39 Issue 12 Pg. 1465-1474 (Dec 2016) ISSN: 1720-8386 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 27473077 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Triiodothyronine
• Thyroxine

Topics

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (standards)
• Humans
• Hypothyroidism (drug therapy)
• Italy
• Practice Guidelines as Topic (standards)
• Quality of Life
• Thyroxine (therapeutic use)
• Triiodothyronine (therapeutic use)