Congenital hypothyroidism treatment in infants: a comparative study between liquid and tablet formulations of levothyroxine
Abstract
AIMS: To compare the effects of liquid and tablet formulations of levothyroxine (L-T4) in 78 newborns with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). METHODS: 39 patients received liquid L-T4 (group A) and 39 patients received tablets (group B). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) were measured and L-T4 dose recorded at onset of therapy and during the first year of treatment. Developmental quotient (DQ) was assessed by Griffiths' mental development scales at 12 months of age. RESULTS: Gestational age, birth weight, screening TSH, etiology and severity of CH, age at onset of therapy and median initial L-T4 dose were similar in both groups. fT4 concentration normalized before 10 days of treatment in all patients. Normalization of TSH concentration was achieved after 7-10 days of therapy in 87% of group A patients and in 82% of group B patients. Group A patients had significantly lower TSH values compared with those of group B at 7-10 days (p = 0.05) and 6-8 months (p = 0.043) of treatment, despite similar L-T4 dose and fT4 concentration. Mean DQ scores were within normal range in all patients. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the efficacy and safety of both formulations. The TSH inhibition trend when using liquid L-T4 may be linked to a higher absorption in comparison to the tablets.
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In hypothyroid infants and children, liquid solution LT4 shows good performance and some advantages compared with tablet preparation.
“The use of LS showed a good performance in patients of this age group and some advantages with respect to the tablet preparation (132, 133).”
From ETA guidelines for the use of levothyroxine sodium preparations in monotherapy to optimize the treatment of hypothyroidism (2025) · cites this paper as [132]
Taken together, liquid solutions have higher absorption, faster Tmax, and lower and more stable TSH levels than solid formulations, partially due to better intestinal absorption.
“Taken together, these results show that liquid solutions have higher absorption, faster Tmax, and lower and more stable TSH levels than solid formulations, partially due to better intestinal absorption.”
From Levothyroxine: conventional and novel drug delivery formulations. (2023) · cites this paper as [189]
Studies of patients with congenital hypothyroidism revealed a more suppressed TSH level in infants receiving the LT4 solution.
“Studies of patients with congenital hypothyroidism revealed a more suppressed TSH level in infants receiving the LT4 solution (188, 189).”
From Levothyroxine: conventional and novel drug delivery formulations. (2023) · cites this paper as [189]
CH patients treated with liquid LT4 may need more frequent fT4 and TSH measurements, and dose adjustments during their first months of life.
“In addition, CH patients treated with liquid LT4 may need more frequent fT4 and TSH measurements, and dose adjustments during their first months of life (92,93).”
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- Authors
- Peroni, E., Vigone, M. C., Mora, S., Bassi, L. A., Pozzi, C., Passoni, A., & Weber, G.
- Affiliations
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (IT)
- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (IT)
- Venue
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2013-11-12
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 50-54
- ISSN
- 1663-2818 (ISSN-L)
- 1663-2826
- OpenAlex
- W1994789561
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 2.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Keywords
- congenital hypothyroidism, levothyroxine, liquid formulation, tablet formulation, infants, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, drug absorption, developmental quotient, neonates
- MeSH terms
- Birth Weight, Child Development, Cognition, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Humans, Infant, Locomotion, Retrospective Studies, Suspensions, Tablets, Thyroid Function Tests, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine
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