Why do we have such difficulty in finding endocrinologists who seem to understand? The abstract below seems to explain that wonderfully well.
Because there are so many comments to be made, I shall depart from my usual approach and will use footnotes.
I couldn't help but hear words such as "smug", "self-satisfied", "complacent", "ignorant" (of more recent research) whooshing through my brain as I read this abstract.
Endocrine. 2019 Jul 18. doi: 10.1007/s12020-019-02006-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Thyroxine and treatment of hypothyroidism: seven decades of experience.
Mateo RCI1, Hennessey JV2.
Author information
1 Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Jelke Building 6th Floor, 1750 Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. roselynimateo@gmail.com.
2 Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Gryzmish 6, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Abstract
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting as much as 10% of the global population. [1] There is a rich cultural milieu of treatment history and interventions dating as far back as 2 millennia. Chinese cretins were treated with sheep thyroid in the 6th century. [2] In 1890, transplanted animal thyroid tissue resulted in a prompt clinical response in a myxedematous patient, and in 1891 injections of sheep thyroid were reported. One year later, the oral administration of fresh sheep thyroid glands was noted to be effective. [3] Within a few years, the danger of over-dosage with extracts was recognized and dosing guidance indicated a low dose start and gradual increase as required based on symptoms. [4] Orally ingested extracts became widespread and by 1914 thyroxine had been crystallized. In 1927, thyroxine, was synthesized as an acid, limiting oral absorption. Finally a sodium salt of thyroxine was introduced in 1949. These synthetic preparations were then made available for clinical use. Prior to 1970, extracts and combination therapy with synthetic LT4 and LT3 were standard replacement until the peripheral deiodinase-mediated T4 to T3 conversion documented the endogenous generation of T3 from LT4 in athyreotic subjects. This resulted in advocacy for patients previously treated with combinations and desiccated thyroid be transitioned to L-thyroxine monotherapy. [5] The determination of the optimal dose has evolved such that now a general recommendation for replacement dosage of LT4 is 1.6-1.7 mcg/kg/day. [6] Thyroid hormone extracts were established prior to the FDA's establishment in 1906, and when the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act of 1938 enhanced the FDA's regulatory authority. In 1997, FDA declared LT4 products to be new drugs subject to regulation and quickly a pharmacokinetic process to determine interchangeability among approved LT4 products ensued. [7] Differences in bioavailability of 12.5% or more may be considered therapeutically equivalent and therefore such products interchangeable. [8] To assure refill to refill consistency, all levothyroxine sodium products now meet a 95-105% potency specification throughout their labeled shelf-lives. [9]Seventy years after Kendall's great achievement in isolating thyroxine, we have thyroxine products with precise amounts of synthetic hormone that meet demanding regulations to assure high product quality, predictable bioavailability given its narrow therapeutic range, and now are left with potential variance in the therapeutic efficacy among different preparations. [10]
PMID: 31321670
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-02006-8
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/313...
[1] Yes, hypothyroidism is common. But there is a profound difference between hypothyroidism caused by iodine-deficiency (which appears to be the most common cause in much of the world) and that caused by autoimmune thyroiditis, or any cause other than iodine-deficiency.
[2] A single out-of-context statement. If they did this in the sixth century, why not in the seventh and every subsequent century? Was it ineffective for some reason?
[3] Just a note of its effectiveness? Didn't Murray publish and give lectures? Didn't a doctor in Londonderry start a local patient because of Murray's paper/lecture? Indicating excitement and desire to propagate the potential therapy.
[4] Yes, of course, straight into the problem of over-dosage. Not consistency. Not under-dosage.
[5] Because deiodination (conversion) of T4 to T3 has been documented, don't offer T3. What sort of logic is that? No notice whatsoever of whether the patients do as well, or not, on levothyroxine monotherapy.
[6] This isn't a case of dosing having evolved but of extreme over-simplification. Degeneration rather than evolution. No consideration whatsoever of variable absorption - which is very well documented in many papers.
[7] It would be far more honest to have explained, or even just stated, that the FDA took that action due to continuing and repeated failures of the pharmaceutical industry to deliver products which conform to even basic standards of potency despite numerous warnings from the FDA over the years.
[8] A testament to inadequate proof reading. What nonsense as published - "12.5% or more".
[9] Simply, not true. All USA levothyroxine products are required to meet a 95-105% potency over their shelf lives. There are over 200 other countries and many do not impose this requirement. And having a requirement does not mean that the products actually meet that requirement.
[10] But you have just told us that the products are interchangeable…