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Ja Hye Kim Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Yunha Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Soojin Hwang Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Gu-Hwan Kim Medical Genetics Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Han-Wook Yoo Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Jin-Ho Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Objective

Heterozygous CHD7 mutations cause a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes ranging from typical CHARGE syndrome to self-limited delayed puberty. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of endocrine dysfunction in patients with CHD7 mutations.

Methods

The clinical features and endocrine findings from 30 patients with CHD7 variants were retrospectively reviewed. A diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome was based on the Verloes diagnostic criteria.

Results

Seventeen patients fulfilled the criteria for typical CHARGE syndrome, one patient for partial/incomplete CHARGE, and the remaining eleven patients had atypical CHARGE syndrome. One patient was diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome and unilateral deafness. The most frequently observed features were inner ear anomalies (80.0%), intellectual disability (76.7%), and external ear anomalies (73.3%). The mean height and weight SDSs at diagnosis were −2.6 ± 1.3 and −2.2 ± 1.8, respectively. Short stature was apparent in 18 patients (60%), and 1 patient was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. Seventeen males showed genital hypoplasia, including micropenis, cryptorchidism, or both. Seven patients after pubertal age had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with hyposmia/anosmia and olfactory bulb hypoplasia. Truncating CHD7 mutations were the most common (n  = 22), followed by missense variants (n  = 3), splice-site variants (n  = 2), and large deletion (n  = 2).

Conclusions

A diverse phenotypic spectrum was observed in patients with CHD7 variants, and endocrine defects such as short stature and delayed puberty occurred in most patients. Endocrine evaluation, especially for growth and pubertal impairment, should be performed during diagnosis and follow-up to improve the patient’s quality of life.

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Laura Potasso Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Julie Refardt Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Irina Chifu Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg Germany

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Martin Fassnacht Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg Germany
Central Laboratory, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany

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Wiebke Kristin Fenske Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, Leipzig, Germany

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Mirjam Christ-Crain Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Objective

Hyperkalemia has been reported upon different hypertonic saline infusion protocols. Since hypertonic saline test has recently been validated for the differential diagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI), we aimed to investigate the course of plasma potassium during the test.

Design

We analyzed data of 90 healthy volunteers and 141 patients with polyuria–polydipsia syndrome (PPS) from two prospective studies evaluating the hypertonic saline test. Our primary outcome was the incidence rate of hypertonic saline-induced hyperkalemia > 5 mmol/L.

Methods

Participants received a 250 mL bolus of 3% NaCl solution, followed by 0.15 mL/min/kg body weight continuously infused targeting a plasma sodium level of 150 mmol/L. Blood samples and clinical data were collected every 30 min.

Results

Of the 231 participants, 16% (n = 37/231) developed hyperkalemia. The incidence of hyperkalemia was higher in healthy volunteers and in patients with primary polydipsia (25.6% (n = 23/90) and 9.9% (n = 14/141), respectively), and only occurred in 3.4% (n = 2/59) of patients with diabetes insipidus. Hyperkalemia developed mostly at or after 90-min test duration (81.1%, n => 30/37). Predictors of hyperkalemia (OR (95% CI)) were male sex (2.9 (1.2–7.4), P => 0.02), a plasma potassium at baseline > 3.9 mmol/L (5.2 (1.8–17.3), P => 0.004), normonatremia at 30-min test duration (3.2 (1.2–9.5), P => 0.03), and an increase in potassium levels already at 30-min test duration as compared to baseline (4.5 (1.7–12.3), P => 0.003). Hyperkalemia was transient and resolved spontaneously in all cases.

Conclusion

The hypertonic saline test can lead to hyperkalemia, especially in patients with primary polydipsia who experience a longer test duration. Monitoring potassium levels in these patients is recommended.

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M de Fost Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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S M Oussaada Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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E Endert Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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G E Linthorst Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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M J Serlie Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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M R Soeters Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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J H DeVries Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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P H Bisschop Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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E Fliers Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Room F5‐164

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The water deprivation test is the gold standard test to differentiate central or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (DI) from primary polydipsia (PP) in patients with polyuria and polydipsia. Few studies have addressed the diagnostic performance of this test. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the standard water deprivation test, including plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) measurements, in 40 consecutive patients with polyuria. We compared initial test results with the final clinical diagnosis, i.e., no DI, central DI, or nephrogenic DI. The median length of follow-up was 8 years. In a subset of ten patients, the novel marker copeptin (CP) was measured in plasma. Using the final diagnosis as a gold standard, a threshold for urine osmolality of >800 mOsmol/kg after water deprivation yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 96 and 100%, respectively, for diagnosing PP. Sensitivity increased to 100% if the cut-off value for urine osmolality was set at 680 mOsmol/kg. Plasma AVP levels did not differ between patient groups and did not differentiate among central DI, nephrogenic DI, or PP. In all three patients with central DI, plasma CP was <2.5 pmol/l with plasma osmolality >290 mOsmol/kg, and >2.5 pmol/l in patients without DI. The optimal cut-off value for differentiating PP from DI during a water deprivation test was urine osmolality >680 mOsmol/kg. Differentiating between central and nephrogenic DI should be based on clinical judgment as AVP levels did not discriminate.

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Tristan Avril Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Bicetre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR DevGen, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, Paris, France

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Quentin Hennocq Datascience platform, Imagine Institute, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France

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Anne-Sophie Lambert Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Bicetre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR DevGen, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, Paris, France

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Juliane Leger Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR de la Croissance et du Développement, Paris, France
Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Santé, UFR de Médecine, Paris, France

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Dominique Simon Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR de la Croissance et du Développement, Paris, France

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Laetitia Martinerie Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR de la Croissance et du Développement, Paris, France
Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Santé, UFR de Médecine, Paris, France
Inserm UMR1185, Le Kremlin Bicetre, Paris, France

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Claire Bouvattier Pediatric Endocrinology Department, CHU Bicetre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Reference Center for Rare Disease CRMR DevGen, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, Paris, France
Inserm UMR1185, Le Kremlin Bicetre, Paris, France
Paris-Saclay University, Paris, France

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Objective

Newborns with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) have an impaired postnatal activation of the gonadotropic axis. Substitutive therapy with recombinant gonadotropins can be proposed to mimic physiological male mini-puberty during the first months of life. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and biological efficacy of two treatment modalities of gonadotropins administration during mini-puberty in CHH neonates.

Design

Multicenter retrospective analytical epidemiological study comparing two treatments, pump vs injection, between 2004 and 2019.

Methods

Clinical (penile size, testis size, testicular descent) and biological parameters (serum concentrations of testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and Inhibin B) were compared between the two groups by multivariate analyses.

Results

Thirty-five patients were included. A significantly higher increase in penile length and testosterone level was observed in the injection group compared to the pump group (+0.16 ± 0.02 mm vs +0.10 ± 0.02 mm per day, P = 0.002; and +0.04 ± 0.007 ng/mL vs +0.01 ± 0.008 ng/mL per day, P = 0.001). In both groups, significant increases in penile length and width, testosterone, AMH, and Inhibin B levels were observed, as well as improved testicular descent (odds ratio of not being in a scrotal position at the end of treatment = 0.97 (0.96; 0.99)).

Conclusions

Early postnatal administration of recombinant gonadotropins in CHH boys is effective in stimulating penile growth, Sertoli cell proliferation, and testicular descent, with both treatment modalities.

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Sheila Leone Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Lucia Recinella Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Annalisa Chiavaroli Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Claudio Ferrante Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Giustino Orlando Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Michele Vacca Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Roberto Salvatori Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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Luigi Brunetti Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy

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Background

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in brain functions. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive functions and emotional behaviour in a mouse model of isolated GH deficiency due to bi-allelic ablation of the GHRH gene (GHRH knockout, GHRHKO).

Methods

Learning, memory and emotional behaviour were evaluated using a series of validated tests (Morris water maze, eight-arm radial maze, open field, elevated plus maze test, forced swim tests) in 2-, 5- and 12-month-old male mice either homozygous (−/−) or heterozygous (+/−) for the GHRHKO allele.

Results

Compared with age-matched +/− mice, −/− mice showed decreased cognitive performance in Morris water maze and eight-arm radial maze tests. By comparing the effects of aging in each genotype, we observed an age-related impairment in test results in +/− mice, while in −/− mice a significant decline in cognitive function was found only in 12 months compared with 2-month-old mice, but no difference was found between 5 months old vs 2 months old. −/− mice showed increased exploration activity compared to age-matched +/− controls, while both strains of mice had an age-related decrease in exploration activity. When evaluated through open field, elevated plus maze and forced swim tests, −/− mice demonstrated a decrease in anxiety and depression-related behaviour compared to age-matched +/− controls.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that homozygous ablation of GHRH gene is associated with decreased performance in learning and memory tests, possibly linked to increased spontaneous locomotor activity. In addition, we observed an age-related decline in cognitive functions in both genotypes.

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Lauren Bell Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Endocrinology & Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK

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Ann Louise Hunter Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Endocrinology & Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK

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Angelos Kyriacou Endocrinology & Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
CEDM Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Limassol, Cyprus

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Annice Mukherjee Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Endocrinology & Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK

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Akheel A Syed Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Endocrinology & Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK

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Background

TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) is considered the gold standard diagnostic test for the autoimmunity of Graves’ disease (GD), which is commonly diagnosed clinically.

Aim

To evaluate the true positive (sensitivity) and true negative (specificity) rates of clinical diagnosis of GD or non-GD hyperthyroidism compared to the TRAb test.

Setting

University teaching hospital in North West England.

Participants

Patients in the Endocrinology service who had a TRAb measurement between December 2009 and October 2015.

Methods

Electronic patient records were studied retrospectively for a pre-TRAb clinical diagnosis of GD or non-GD hyperthyroidism. We examined descriptive statistics and binary classification tests; Fisher exact test was used to analyse contingency tables.

Results

We identified 316 patients with a mean age of 45 (range, 17–89) years; 247 (78%) were women. Compared to the TRAb result, clinical diagnosis had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity 66%, positive predictive value 72%, negative predictive value 84%, false negative rate 12%, false positive rate 34%, positive likelihood ratio 2.6 and negative likelihood ratio 0.2 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Clinicians were liable to both over- and under-diagnose GD. The TRAb test can help reduce the number of incorrect or unknown diagnoses in the initial clinical assessment of patients presenting with hyperthyroidism.

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Agnieszka Pazderska Department of Endocrinology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Department of Endocrinology, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

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Yaasir Mamoojee Department of Endocrinology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Satish Artham Department of Endocrinology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Margaret Miller Department of Endocrinology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Stephen G Ball Department of Endocrinology, Central Manchester University Hospitals, Manchester, UK
Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

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Tim Cheetham Endocrine Research Group, Institute of Genetic Medicine, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Department of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Richard Quinton Department of Endocrinology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Endocrine Research Group, Institute of Genetic Medicine, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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We present herein our 20-year experience of pubertal induction in apubertal older (median age 56 years; range 38.4–69.5) men with congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (n = 7) using a simple fixed-dose and fixed-interval intramuscular testosterone that we originally pioneered in relation to achieving virilisation of natal female transgender men. This regime was effective and well tolerated, resulting in complete virilisation by around 1 year after treatment initiation. No physical or psychological adverse effects were encountered in this group of potentially vulnerable individuals. There were no abnormal excursions of laboratory parameters and extended follow-up beyond the first year of treatment revealed remarkable improvements in bone density. We highlight advantages to both patients and physicians of this regime in testosterone-naïve older men with congenital hypogonadism and discourage the over-rigid application to such patients of treatment algorithms derived from paediatric practice in relation to the evaluation and management in younger teenagers with delayed puberty of uncertain cause.

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L A Hughes West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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K McKay-Bounford West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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E A Webb Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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P Dasani West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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S Clokie West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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H Chandran Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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L McCarthy Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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Z Mohamed Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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J M W Kirk Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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N P Krone Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

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S Allen West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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T R P Cole West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are a diverse group of conditions where the chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex can be atypical. The highly heterogeneous nature of this group of conditions often makes determining a genetic diagnosis challenging. Prior to next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, genetic diagnostic tests were only available for a few of the many DSD-associated genes, which consequently had to be tested sequentially. Genetic testing is key in establishing the diagnosis, allowing for personalised management of these patients. Pinpointing the molecular cause of a patient’s DSD can significantly impact patient management by informing future development needs, altering management strategies and identifying correct inheritance pattern when counselling family members. We have developed a 30-gene NGS panel, designed to be used as a frontline test for all suspected cases of DSD (both 46,XX and 46,XY cases). We have confirmed a diagnosis in 25 of the 80 patients tested to date. Confirmed diagnoses were linked to mutations in AMH, AMHR2, AR, HSD17B3, HSD3B2, MAMLD1, NR5A1, SRD5A2 and WT1 which have resulted in changes to patient management. The minimum diagnostic yield for patients with 46,XY DSD is 25/73. In 34/80 patients, only benign or likely benign variants were identified, and in 21/80 patients only variants of uncertain significance (VOUS) were identified, resulting in a diagnosis not being confirmed in these individuals. Our data support previous studies that an NGS panel approach is a clinically useful and cost-effective frontline test for patients with DSDs.

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Navid Tabriz University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Kilian Gloy University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Astrid Schantzen University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Dennis Fried University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Dirk Weyhe University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Verena Uslar University Hospital for Visceral Surgery, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany

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Objectives

Validation of a German version of the ThyPRO-39 questionnaire for quality of life (QoL) in patients with benign thyroid diseases.

Design

Internal consistency, retest reliability, and validity were to be assessed in a test-retest study.

Methods

The ThyPRO-39 was translated based on standard methodology. A sample of 98 patients with benign thyroid diseases was tested with the ThyPRO-39de and the generic EuroQol 5D-5L. Forty-four patients with stable symptoms after 2 weeks formed the repeated measures sample. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for the ThyPRO-39de composite score and for each disease-specific scale. Intraclass correlations between the original and the repeated measures sample were calculated for each scale as well as Pearson correlations between various ThyPRO scales and the EuroQol. T-tests were used to test for differences in the goiter and hyperthyroid symptom scales between relevant patient groups and other patients.

Results

Internal consistency was between satisfactory and good, except for two scales (tiredness and cosmetic complaints/appearance). The test-retest correlation was between 0.62 and 0.8 for most scales, but below 0.5 for two scales (tiredness and impaired social life). There were significant correlations between the EuroQol index score and most aspects of the ThyPRO-39de. Only the hyperthyroid symptoms scale was specific for the relevant patient group (Graves’ disease).

Conclusion

The ThyPRO-39de may be recommended for use in clinical and research settings, especially with regards to the composite score. However, the underlying thyroid disease should always be kept in mind when interpreting the test results. A larger sample would be needed to implement further improvements.

Open access
G Amiyangoda Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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C N Antonypillai Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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S S C Gunatilake Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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T T Weerathunge Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

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D Ediriweera Health Data Science Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

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S G P D Kosgallana Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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R D P Jayawardana Department of Biochemistry, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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H A N D Thissera Department of Biochemistry, National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka

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W J Emalka Faculty of medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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H U Daraniyagala Faculty of medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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Refractory hypothyroidism is associated with high morbidity and increased healthcare expenditure. In general, the use of the levothyroxine absorption test looks promising in evaluating refractory hypothyroidism but has shown significant variability in protocols in multiple settings. We intended to assess the usefulness of the levothyroxine absorption test in a low-resource setting and to assess the factors associated with refractory hypothyroidism. A cross-sectional study among age-matched 25 cases of refractory hypothyroidism and 24 treatment-responsive hypothyroid controls was conducted. A supervised levothyroxine absorption test was performed with levothyroxine 1000 μg tablets after a 10-h fast, and serum free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) levels were measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and logistic regression were used in the analysis. Results showed no significant difference in age, body weight, etiology of hypothyroidism, interfering medications, thyroxine storage, and ingestion technique in cases and controls. Cases had a longer duration of hypothyroidism and males had a higher peak FT4 concentration. During pooled analysis, serum FT4 peaked at 3 h with an increment of 149.4% (128.4–170.5%) from baseline and plateaued thereafter. The absolute value of FT4 at 3 h was 41.59 (s.d. 14.14) pmol/L (3.23 ng/dL). We concluded that there was no significant difference in the pattern of levothyroxine absorption in both groups. The most common cause of refractory disease was pseudo-malabsorption. Rapid supervised levothyroxine absorption test with two blood samples for FT4 at baseline and at the peak of absorption (3 h) is simple, convenient, and cost-effective, particularly in low-resource settings.

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