title: Do we treat hypothyroidism properly? A survey of 2488 patients from University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to examine the effectiveness of levothyroxine treatment in hypothyroid patients in achieving normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4 and T3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results of the treatment of 2448 hypothyroid patients treated with LT4 for at least 12 months between 2006 and 2011 (1920 with spontaneous hypothyroidism and 528 with hypothyroidism following surgery or 131I) are presented. Serum TSH, T4 and T3 were analyzed and referred as normal, increased or decreased.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal TSH was found in 75 and 68% of patients respectively. In subgroups with increased TSH, 15% and 14% of patients showed borderline or only mildly increased TSH (4.1-5.5 mIU/L). T4 (94 and 86%) and T3 (93 and 90% respectively) were normal in the majority of patients from both groups. LT4 over-treatment is observed in only 4 and 6% of patients respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are less favorable for the group with hypothyroidism following surgery or (131)I than in spontaneous hypothyroidism, but in about 90% of patients with spontaneous hypothyroidism and 82% with hypothyroidism following surgery or (131)I, the LT4 dose could remain unchanged. It is discussed whether standard LT4 replacement could render normal TSH and thyroid hormone patterns in all hypothyroid patients.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sisters of Mercy University Hospital Center, Vinogradska 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Solter
authors: Miljenko
authors: M
authors: Solter
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine