Clinical Thyroidology for the Public summarizes selected research studies discussed in the previous month’s issue of Clinical Thyroidology, an official publication of the American Thyroid Association. Editor-in-chief, Alan Farwell, MD, FACE
Volume 19 Issue 5
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Clinical Thyroidology for the Public Volume 19 Issue 5 (PDF file, 2.38 MB)
TABLE OF CONTENTS – Web Format
LAWRENCE CRANE WOOD, MD
Honoring the passing of a giant in thyroid patient education.
THYROID DISEASE AND PREGNANCY
Does hypothyroidism in pregnancy increase risk of autism spectrum disorder in children?
With its important role in brain development, thyroid function has been of interest as one of the potential factors that contribute to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. The current study investigated possible association between abnormal thyroid function in mothers during pregnancy and children’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorder.
Elbedour L et al. Maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and risk of autism spectrum disorder. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Epub 2025 Nov 25:dgaf596; doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf596. PMID: 41288361
THYROID CANCER
Do weight loss drugs cause growth of thyroid cancer?
The FDA has warned against using the weight loss medications known as GLP-1RAs in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) after animal studies indicated that these drugs could increase the growth of the cells that can develop into MTC. Papillary thyroid cancer arises from different thyroid cells than MTC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of GLP-1RA exposure on cancer growth and progression in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid cancer undergoing active surveillance.
Patrizio A, et al. Effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists on patients with thyroid carcinomas undergoing active surveillance. J Endocr Soc.2025;10(1):bvaf182; doi: 10.1210/jendso/ bvaf182. PMID: 41376649.
HYPERTHYROIDISM
Can the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as bile acid sequestrants be used to lower thyroid levels in thyrotoxicosis?
Bile acid sequestrants, older drugs originally used to treat high cholesterol, bind bile acids in the intestine and also can bind other proteins, including thyroid hormones, and remove them from the body. The purpose of the study is to determine whether adding bile acid sequestrants to standard hyperthyroidism treatment leads to a more rapid reduction in thyroid hormone levels than antithyroid drugs alone.
Moreno Watashi D et al . Efficacy and safety of adjunctive bile acid sequestrant therapy for thyrotoxicosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Thyroid. Epub 2025 Dec 18; doi: 10.1177/10507256251409074.
THYROID AND PREGNANCY
Different forms of thyroid medication may need different doses in pregnancy
During pregnancy, the goal of levothyroxine therapy is to keep the TSH level below 2.5 to help protect the baby’s development. This study was designed to compare how much levothyroxine is needed to keep the TSH below 2.5 in early pregnancy in women taking tablets versus those taking liquid or soft-gel forms.
Scappaticcio L, et al. Adjustments during pregnancy differ between users of tablet and nontablet formulation? A real-world study. Endocr Pract. Epub 2025 Dec 30:S1530- 891X(25)01350-3; doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2025.12.021. PMID: 41478457.
THYROID SURGERY
Is surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland always necessary for treatment of medullary thyroid cancer?
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) often already involves multiple areas of the thyroid gland at the time it is first diagnosed and it may also have already spread out of the thyroid into neighboring neck lymph nodes. The goal of the study described here was to test whether thyroid lobectomy alone, instead of total thyroidectomy, might be a safe and effective treatment for people diagnosed with MTC.
Cappagli V et al. Multifocality and bilaterality in medullary thyroid cancer: basis for a proof-of-concept safety of lobectomy. Eur Thyroid J 2025;14(5):e250074
THYROID CANCER
Gaps between guidelines and clinical practice on decreasing thyroid hormone suppression in low and intermediate risk thyroid cancer patients
For many years, thyroid cancer patients were treated with doses of thyroid hormone aimed at suppressing TSH levels to decrease the risk of thyroid cancer recurrence. However, national guidelines now advise reducing TSH suppression for those who are at low risk of recurrence and who remain cancer-free for several years. The current study was performed to assess the barriers to physicians in reducing TSH suppression in thyroid cancer survivors.
Francis-Levin N, Tan CY, Gay BL, et al. A qualitative study of clinician barriers and facilitators to de-escalation of thyroid stimulating hormone suppression in thyroid cancer survivors. Endocr Pract. Epub 2025 Dec 17:S1530-891X(25)01334-5; doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2025.12.009. PMID: 41419177.
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