EJMCR |

Case Series

Volume: 8 | Issue: 6 | Published: Jul 04, 2024 | Pages: 118 - 121 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients

Authors: Farkhanda Gillani , Muhammad Babar Imran , Mariha Aslam , Warda Ahmad , Muhammad Shahzad Afzal

Article Info

Authors

Farkhanda Gillani

Nuclear Medicine Department, PINUM, Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Muhammad Babar Imran

Nuclear Medicine Department, PINUM, Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Mariha Aslam

Nuclear Medicine Department, PINUM, Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Warda Ahmad

Consultant Radiologist, PINUM, Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Muhammad Shahzad Afzal

Nuclear Medicine Department, PINUM, Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Publication History

Received: November 20, 2023

Revised: January 24, 2024

Accepted: January 24, 2024

Published: July 04, 2024

Abstract

Background: Failure to treat persistent hypothyroidism despite the use of adequately prescribed doses of levothyroxine should be evaluated for malabsorption and nonadherence to medication. Previous literature suggested that orally administered levothyroxine showed maximum absorption at or near 2 hours. This rapid absorption suggests the use of a 2-hour levothyroxine absorption test as an alternative to long, cumbersome protocols. Limited data are available measuring free thyroxine (FT4) levels at 2 hours after oral administration of 1,000 mcg of levothyroxine. Case Presentation: Six patients who continued to have hypothyroidism despite taking ostensibly high doses of levothyroxine underwent a 2-hour protocol levothyroxine absorption test. All patients were given 1,000 mcg of levothyroxine, and serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), FT4, and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. All patients showed an increasing trend in FT4 in subsequent samples at 60 and 120 minutes, compared to baseline values, providing strong evidence of peak levothyroxine absorption at 2 hours. Five patients had raised baseline TSH levels, indicating nonadherence to treatment, and one had normal baseline TSH levels, indicating adherence to levothyroxine therapy on prior test scheduling, with increased FT3 and FT4 levels in subsequent samples at 60 and 120 minutes. Conclusion: We conclude that the rapid levothyroxine absorption test, using a 2-hour protocol, is a more convenient method to differentiate nonadherence from malabsorption. Moreover, scheduling the patient will result in adherence to levothyroxine therapy in some patients.

Keywords: Levothyroxine absorption test, nonadherence, malabsorption, case series, green

Pubmed Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal. Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients. EJMCR. 2024; 04 (July 2024): 118-121. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

Web Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal. Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients. https://ejmcr.com/articles/1216 [Access: December 25, 2024]. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal. Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients. EJMCR. (2024), [cited December 25, 2024]; 04 (July 2024): 118-121. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

Harvard Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal (2024) Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients. EJMCR, 04 (July 2024): 118-121. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

Chicago Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal. "Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients." 04 (2024), 118-121. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal. "Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients." 04.July 2024 (2024), 118-121. Print. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Farkhanda Gillani, Muhammad Babar Imran, Mariha Aslam, Warda Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad Afzal (2024) Rapid levothyroxine absorption test for assessment of nonadherence to levothyroxine treatment : a case series of six patients. , 04 (July 2024), 118-121. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.173-1643087710