Neurocognitive and Metabolic Effects of Mild Hypothyroidism

Summary

Patients with hypothyroidism are routinely treated with thyroid hormone (l-thyroxine) for replacement therapy. Physicians monitor the thyroid hormone dose by measuring a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level in the blood, with the goal of a normal level. However, recent data suggest that the "normal" TSH range is too broad, and that patients may still have symptoms if their TSH levels are at the top or bottom part of the normal range. To study this issue, it is useful to address issues such as general health status, psychological symptoms, mood, memory, and metabolic status, since thyroid hormone has major effects on the brain and metabolism, and since patients with treated hypothyroidism often have symptoms related to these areas. In the present study, otherwise healthy subjects with treated hypothyroidism, ages 20-75 years, will be enrolled in a 7-11month study. At baseline, they will have tests of health status, psychological symptoms, mood, memory, body composition, and energy expenditure performed. Following these baseline measurements, subjects will receive either their usual doses of l-thyroxine, or a slightly higher or lower dose. The doses will be chosen to try to achieve either a low-normal TSH level, a high-normal TSH level, or a mildly elevated TSH level. Which target TSH the patient is assigned will be determined randomly, and neither the subject nor the study contacts will know which dose the patient is receiving. Subjects will be seen every 6 weeks during the study for brief visits to make sure they are not having any side effects, and to adjust the l-thyroxine doses if the TSH has not yet reached the target range. At the 24-week visit (end of study), the subjects will undergo the same tests that they had on the baseline visit. Results from the study will be examined to see if minor changes in TSH or other thyroid hormone levels cause changes in any of the outcomes, and if the degree of TSH change correlates with the degree of outcome changes. These results may help physicians caring for patients with thyroid disease better determine the optimal dose of thyroid hormone for each patient.

Timeline

Start

2008-08

Primary completion

2013-08

Completion

2013-08

Publications

• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Niederhausen M, Purnell JQ, Schuff KG. Effects of Altering Levothyroxine Dose on Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Subjects Treated With LT4. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Nov 1;103(11):4163-4175. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-01203.
• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Niederhausen M, Janowsky JS, Schuff KG. Effects of Altering Levothyroxine (L-T4) Doses on Quality of Life, Mood, and Cognition in L-T4 Treated Subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 May 1;103(5):1997-2008. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-02668.
• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Antosik M, Niederhausen M, Purnell JQ, Schuff KG. Thyroid Function Variation in the Normal Range, Energy Expenditure, and Body Composition in L-T4-Treated Subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jul 1;102(7):2533-2542. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-00224.
• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Smeraglio A, Niederhausen M, Janowsky JS, Schuff KG. Effect of Thyroid Function Variations Within the Laboratory Reference Range on Health Status, Mood, and Cognition in Levothyroxine-Treated Subjects. Thyroid. 2016 Sep;26(9):1173-84. doi: 10.1089/thy.2016.0141. Epub 2016 Jul 25.
• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Smeraglio A, Peters D, Purnell JQ, Schuff KG. Effects of Levothyroxine Replacement or Suppressive Therapy on Energy Expenditure and Body Composition. Thyroid. 2016 Mar;26(3):347-55. doi: 10.1089/thy.2015.0345. Epub 2016 Feb 3.
• Samuels MH, Kolobova I, Smeraglio A, Peters D, Janowsky JS, Schuff KG. The effects of levothyroxine replacement or suppressive therapy on health status, mood, and cognition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Mar;99(3):843-51. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-3686. Epub 2014 Jan 13.

Drugs

Indications