Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40269940›Full record

ArticleThyroid research2025

Are liquid levothyroxine formulations comparable? The LETI study.

Elisa Gatta, Virginia Maltese, Ilenia Pirola, Elena Gandossi, Irene Silvestrini, Massimiliano Ugoccioni, Riccardo Morandi, Claudio Casella, Carlo Cappelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Thyroid research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Elisa GattaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, SSD Endocrinologia, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Virginia MalteseDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, SSD Endocrinologia, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Ilenia PirolaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, SSD Endocrinologia, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Elena GandossiDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, SSD Endocrinologia, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Irene SilvestriniDepartment of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Massimiliano UgoccioniDepartment of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Riccardo MorandiCentro Per La Diagnosi E Cura Delle Neoplasie Endocrine E Delle Malattie Della Tiroide, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Claudio CasellaCentro Per La Diagnosi E Cura Delle Neoplasie Endocrine E Delle Malattie Della Tiroide, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Carlo CappelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, SSD Endocrinologia, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. carlo.cappelli@unibs.it.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLiquid ethanol-containing levothyroxine (e-LT4) is known to circumvent malabsorption induced by food, drugs, or pathological conditions. Recently a new ethanol-free formulation of liquid levothyroxine (ef-LT4) has been commercialized. No studies have compared e-LT4 with ef-LT4. The aim of the present study is to compare thyroid hormone profile in patients treated with e-LT4 and ef-LT4. MATERIAL AND

methodsWe retrospectively retrieved thyroid hormonal profile and clinical data of 48 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism who had been on stable treatment with an e- LT4 formulation at the same dosage for at least one year and who decided to switch to ef-LT4 for tasting issue.

resultsA significant increase in TSH levels was observed after 6 months on ef-LT4 treatment (2.5 ± 0.8 mIU/ml vs. 3.1 ± 1.0 mIU/ml, respectively, p < .001), while fT4 decreased [1.2 ng/dl (IQR 1.1-1.4) vs. 1.1 ng/dl (1.0-1.2), respectively, p = .047], maintaining the same dosage of LT4. In 31 patients, for whom data were available 12 months after the switch, TSH further increased (2.50 ± 0.9 mIU/ml at baseline vs 3.2 ± 0.9 mIU/ml after 6 months vs 3.5 ± 0.9 mIU/ml at 12 months, p < .001) and fT4 decreased [1.2 ng/dl (IQR 1.1-1.4) vs. 1.1 ng/dl (IQR 0.9-1.3) vs 1.0 ng/dl (IQR 0.9-1.1), p = .008].

conclusionef-LT4 formulation seems to be less effective compared to e-LT4 over time. However, further prospective cross-sectional studies, performed in large sets of patients, even on concomitant therapy with interfering drugs, are needed.

Indexed as

EthanolHypothyroidismLevothyroxineLiquid levothyroxine

Identifiers

PMID40269940
PMCPMC12020242

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.