Predictors for thyroid dysfunction after discontinuation of levothyroxine in children and adolescents with Hashimoto thyroiditis
Purpose Few data on the clinical course after levothyroxine (L-T4) discontinuation in pediatric patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) are available. We investigated outcomes and predictors for successful withdrawal from L-T4 among children with HT. Methods Among 168 patients diagnosed with HT bet...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://e-apem.org/upload/pdf/apem-2346204-102.pdf |
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| Summary: | Purpose Few data on the clinical course after levothyroxine (L-T4) discontinuation in pediatric patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) are available. We investigated outcomes and predictors for successful withdrawal from L-T4 among children with HT. Methods Among 168 patients diagnosed with HT between January 2000 and March 2021 at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital and in whom L-T4 therapy was initiated during childhood, we attempted to discontinue this therapy in 47, 3 boys and 44 girls. L-T4 was restarted when patients developed overt or subclinical hypothyroidism (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels≥10 mIU/L) after L-T4 discontinuation. Results Median age at discontinuation was 15.4 years (12.7–18.4 years) with a median duration of L-T4 therapy of 47 months (20.3–80.3 months). During the median 30 months of follow-up (10.6–61.0 months) after L-T4 discontinuation, 33 (70.2%) developed thyroid dysfunction. Among these patients, 17 were eventually restarted on L-T4. TSH levels over 50 mIU/L at L-T4 initiation (hazard ratio, HR 3.5, P=0.002), age under 12 years at L-T4 discontinuation (HR 11.1, P=0.0001), and TSH levels higher than the upper 50% of normal (above 2.25 mIU/L in the present study) at L-T4 discontinuation (HR 2.7, P=0.014) were significantly predictive for overt hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism after L-T4 discontinuation. In addition, age under 12 years at L-T4 discontinuation was only predictive factor for restarting L-T4 medication (HR 4.3, P=0.012). Conclusions L-T4 discontinuation in pediatric patients with HT resulted in thyroid dysfunction in 70.2% of cases; 36.2% of patients who attempted discontinuation required resumption of L-T4. Older age and lower TSH levels at L-T4 discontinuation were advantageous for successful withdrawal. |
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| ISSN: | 2287-1012 2287-1292 |