THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT IN TOTAL THYROIDECTOMIZED PATIENTS: SYMPTOMATIC AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF LEVOTHYROXINE MONOTHERAPY

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we planned to investigate the effects of L-thyroxine monotherapy on totalthyroidectomized patients. The main goal of our study is to evaluate if FT4 therapy is good enough notonly to maintain euthyroidism but also to provide a good quality of life and a balance in their metabolismMethods: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 30 total thyroidectomized patients withoutmalignancy. We compared their thyroid hormone levels, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, their bodymass indexes, and their symptoms of thyroid problems before surgery and after one year of treatment ofL-thyroxine monotherapy.Results: the pre-op and post-op thyroid hormone levels were both in the normal range but the FT4 levelswere significantly higher in the 1st year results than pre-op results (1,42 ± 0,18 vs 1,29 ± 0,49 respectivelyP=0,005*) The FT3 levels also were in the normal range in pre and 1st year post-op but post-op FT3levels were significantly lower than pre-op levels (2,25 ± 0,27 vs 2,92 ± 0,49 retrospectively P