title: Treatment for primary hypothyroidism: current approaches and future possibilities.
abstract: Primary hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease. Although the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism is often considered simple, there are large numbers of people with this condition who are suboptimally treated. Even in those people with hypothyroidism who are biochemically euthyroid on levothyroxine replacement there is a significant proportion who report poorer quality of life. This review explores the historical and current treatment options for hypothyroidism, reasons for and potential solutions to suboptimal treatment, and future possibilities in the treatment of hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Ali J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chakera
authors.forename: Simon H S
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Bijay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaidya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine