Synthetic and desiccated thyroid products equally effective to treat hypothyroidism: Study

In an accompanying editorial, Jill Schneiderhan and Suzanna Zick argue in favor of a patient-centered approach as opposed to relying primarily on laboratory results when determining the best way to manage hyperthyroidism. Emerging evidence shows that for many patients taking levothyroxine, symptoms persist despite lab results indicating normal TSH values. Further, these patients may feel invalidated and not in control of their treatment decisions. Schneiderhan and Zick conclude, "[k]eeping desiccated thyroid medications as an option in our tool kit will allow for improved shared decision making, while allowing for patient preference, and offer an option for those patients who remain symptomatic on levothyroxine monotherapy."

Regarding study limitations, this was a retrospective chart review in which we were unable to account for confounding variables such as adherence, differences in prescriber practice between agents, or concurrent medications that could have affected TSH. We were also unable to assess subjective outcomes of hypothyroidism management. There was a statistically significant difference between the baseline TSH value of patients prescribed desiccated thyroid (2.4 uIU/mL) compared with those prescribed synthetic levothyroxine (3.4 (uIU/mL), although both groups were within the KPCO TSH reference range.

This study adds to the limited body of evidence regarding the stability of levothyroxine and desiccated thyroid. A previous study noted that TSH levels remained within reference range for 12 weeks in patients treated with either 12 weeks in patients treated with either levothyroxine or desiccated thyroid.5 This study showed that after 3 years, TSH values in both groups remained within reference ranges approximately 80% of the time.