More Evidence Against L-Thyroxine for Subclinical Hypothyroidism

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Among older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism and a high symptom burden, treatment with L-thyroxine does not improve hypothyroid symptoms, according to a secondary analysis from a randomized trial in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

In brief, roughly 640 patients aged 65 and older with persistent subclinical hypothyroidism were randomized to receive L-thyroxine or placebo. In an analysis limited to those with a high hypothyroid symptom score at baseline, symptoms improved to a similar extent with L-thyroxine or placebo by 1 year. The same held true for those with a high tiredness score at baseline.

Dr. Allan Brett of NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine takes a closer look at these findings at the first link below. Have a look.