Occurrence of thyroxine tablet (Thyradin S®) - induced liver dysfunction in a patient with subclinical hypothyroidism

• Published in: Endocrine Journal Vol. 62; no. 8; pp. 719 - 724
• Main Authors: Kang, Shino, Amino, Nobuyuki, Kudo, Takumi, Nishihara, Eijun, Ito, Mitsuru, Hirokawa, Mitsuyoshi, Miyauchi, Akira, Tamada, Daisuke, Yasuda, Takenori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japan Endocrine Society 2015
• Subjects: Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - etiology; Drug-induced liver injury; Female; Humans; Hypothyroidism - drug therapy; Levothyroxine in powder form; Levothyroxine tablet; Middle Aged; Thyroxine - adverse effects; Thyroxine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0918-8959; 1348-4540
• DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ15-0112

A 54-year-old woman with subclinical hypothyroidism developed liver dysfunction after increasing dose of levothyroxine (L-T4) in tablet form (Thyradin S®) from 25μg to 50μg. Viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and NASH were ruled out with examinations. After cessation of levothyroxine in 50μg tablet form, liver enzymes gradually returned to normal. She was diagnosed levothyroxine-induced liver injury, based on criteria proposed in DDW-J 2004 workshop. Thyradin S® powder 0.01% (here in after referred to as L-T4 in powder form) was tried as an alternative, and liver enzymes have remained within normal range. As for Thyradin S® tablet, additives are different for each type of levothyroxine sodium content. The difference of additive is whether Fe2O3 is contained or not: it is not included in Thyradin S® 50μg tablet and powder form. Although there are two case reports in the Japanese literature and three case reports in the English literature of liver dysfunction suspected due to L-T4, we cannot find past reports about cases of drug induced liver dysfunction due to Fe2O3 free levothyroxine tablet form. This is a rare case report of drug induced liver injury due to Fe2O3 free levothyroxine tablet form, and administration of L-T4 in powder form may be useful for treatment of cases similar to this one.