SAGE Open Medical Case Reports (Nov 2023)

Levothyroxine liquid oral substitution as an alternative treatment for refractory hypothyroidism due to gastrointestinal malabsorption: A case report

  • Faten Cherchir,
  • Ibtissem Oueslati,
  • Yasmine Mouelhi,
  • Emna Talbi,
  • Moncef Feki,
  • Meriem Yazidi,
  • Melika Chihaoui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X231209229
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Tablets of levothyroxine (LT4) are the most used form for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Some patients may present with refractory hypothyroidism despite a high daily LT4 dose. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman who was admitted to our department for refractory hypothyroidism. She was treated with 300 μg oral LT4 tablets daily (3.9 μg/kg/day). Despite good compliance and regular intake of high doses of LT4, she had persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism and a thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 92.4 mIU/L. LT4 absorption test was consistent with the diagnosis of malabsorption. Etiological investigations revealed Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Helicobacter infection was adequately treated, but symptoms of hypothyroidism and elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone persisted. Increased LT4 doses (400 μg) failed to normalize thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Thus, she was put on LT4 liquid form at a dose of 80 drops/day per day (400 µg). Two weeks later, she presented with clinical and biological improvement with a normal free thyroxine level of 1.14 ng/dL. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders may present with refractory hypothyroidism despite increasing doses of LT4. Switching to liquid formulation may resolve this problem.