Thyroxine and treatment of hypothyroidism: seven decades of experience

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting as much as 10% of the global population. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Differences in bioavailability of 12.5% or more may be considered therapeutically equivalent and therefore such products interchangeable. To assure refill to refill consistency, all levothyroxine sodium products now meet a 95–105% potency specification throughout their labeled shelf-lives. 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.