Subcutaneous administration of levothyroxine: a novel approach to refractory hypothyroidism – A review and a case report

Abstract

SUMMARY Treatment-refractory hypothyroidism is a common clinical finding. Substantial causes include poor compliance and intake failure as well as gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and short bowel syndromes. Increasing oral dosage of levothyroxine (LT4) is not always effective. Therefore, alternative routes of administration are necessary. In this report, we evaluate alternative treatment modalities for refractory hypothyroidism and present a 28-year-old woman with intestinal drug malabsorption successfully treated by subcutaneous LT4 administration. In this patient, a parenteral form of LT4, 500 μg/5 ml, was administered subcutaneously in a split dosage regimen. Blood hormone levels returned to normal within a few days and remained stable over an 8-month follow-up period.