Levothyroxine treatment for congenital hypothyroidism based on thyroid function: a 10-year clinical retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: To explore the appropriate dosage of levothyroxine treatment for congenital hypothyroidism patients with different thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. METHODS: A total of 116 patients, who were regularly followed-up in our endocrine clinic from January 2010 to December 2020, were divided into four groups based on their thyroid function (group A: TSH ≥ 100 mIU/L, group B: TSH ≥ 20, and < 100, group C: TSH > 4.6 mIU/L and < 20 mIU/L with free thyroxine (FT4) < 6.6 pmol/L, and group D: TSH > 4.6 mIU/L and < 20 mIU/L with FT4 > 6.6 pmol/L). The initial dosage of levothyroxine was individualized for each patient based on their TSH level and then adjusted according to their thyroid function at every follow-up time point. The levothyroxine dosage at each time point was compared between the groups, and thyroid function and physical and neurological development after treatment were also compared. RESULTS: After individualized dosage adjustment, all patients achieved normal thyroid function. Although there were statistical differences in neurological development between the four groups (p < 0.05), development was within the normal range for all groups. CONCLUSION: An individualized levothyroxine dosage can provide the same therapeutic effect compared to the recommended dosage. This strategy may also reduce the risk of a drug overdose.