Long-term safety and efficacy of risankizumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: Interim analysis of the LIMMitless open-label extension trial up to 5 years of follow-up.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease often requiring long-term therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of risankizumab in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: LIMMitless is an ongoing phase 3, open-label extension study evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of continuous risankizumab 150 mg every 12 weeks for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis following multiple phase 2/3 base studies.

Comparative Effectiveness of Persistent Use of a Name-Brand Levothyroxine (Synthroid®) vs. Persistent Use of Generic Levothyroxine on TSH Goal Achievement: A Retrospective Study Among Patients with Hypothyroidism in a Managed Care Setting.

Introduction: Levothyroxine monotherapy (Synthroid® or multiple generic levothyroxine [GL] formulations) is standard treatment for hypothyroidism. Our objective was to compare effectiveness (as measured by achievement of thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels) and economic outcomes of Synthroid vs. any one of multiple GLs in patients with hypothyroidism.

The direct and indirect economic burden of hypothyroidism in the United States: a retrospective claims database study.

Objective: To examine direct and indirect economic burden associated with hypothyroidism in the United States.

Methods: Medical costs attributable to hypothyroidism were estimated for patients with hypothyroidism. Non-hypothyroid (euthyroid) controls were matched to patients with hypothyroidism based upon patient characteristics and availability of productivity data.

The Association Between Switching from Synthroid and Clinical Outcomes: US Evidence from a Retrospective Database Analysis.

Introduction: Clinical guidelines recommend levothyroxine as the standard of care for hypothyroidism and that patients should be treated with a consistent preparation of synthetic levothyroxine without switching among formulations. This study examines the likelihoods of negative clinical outcomes between continuous users of Synthroid (AbbVie, Inc.) and patients who switch from Synthroid to an alternative formulation of levothyroxine.

Hypothyroidism Treatment Among Older Adults: Evidence from a Claims Database.

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common but often unrecognized condition associated with significant morbidity in the older adult population. This study characterizes a large population of older adults diagnosed with hypothyroidism and examines concordance of their treatment with recommendations from expert bodies, e.g.

Levothyroxine Treatment of Pregnant Women with Hypothyroidism: Retrospective Analysis of a US Claims Database.

Background: Approximately 2-4% of women of reproductive age have hypothyroidism. This study characterizes pregnant women with hypothyroidism and examines adherence to guidelines during pregnancy.

Methods: Women age 18 to 49 who were pregnant in 2014 and identified with hypothyroidism (N = 3448) were included in the retrospective study.

The association between adherence to levothyroxine and economic and clinical outcomes in patients with hypothyroidism in the US.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes associated with adherence to levothyroxine (LT4) in the US adult hypothyroidism population.

Methods: We used data from Truven's MarketScan databases from 1 July 2011 through 31 December 2015. Patients aged 18 or older were diagnosed with hypothyroidism (confirmed at least twice) and prescribed LT4.

Evaluation of Lipid Profile and Residual Cardiovascular Risk in Patients Prior to Initiation of Niaspan Therapy.

Despite significant impact of statins, there are a number of patients with residual risk of cardio vascular disease who have optimally controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Niaspan (extended-release nicotinic acid or niacin-ER) is indicated for its use as monotherapy for the treatment of very high triglyceride (TG) levels and for the raising of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) representing those residual risk populations. The patient characteristics and lipid profile, prior to initiation of therapy, in the real-world clinical setting has not been well documented.

Current evidence for the treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine/levotriiodothyronine combination therapy versus levothyroxine monotherapy.

Objective: Hypothyroidism is relatively common, occurring in approximately 5% of the general US population aged ≥12 years. Levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy is the standard of care. Approximately, 5%-10% of patients who normalise thyroid-stimulating hormone levels with LT4 monotherapy may have persistent symptoms that patients and clinicians may attribute to hypothyroidism.

Gluten and Aluminum Content in Synthroid (Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets).

Introduction: Inquiries from healthcare providers and patients about the gluten and aluminum content of Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium tablets) have increased. The objective of this study was to measure and evaluate the gluten content of the raw materials used in the manufacturing of Synthroid. Additionally, this study determined the aluminum content in different strengths of Synthroid tablets by estimating the amount of aluminum in the raw materials used in the manufacturing of Synthroid.

Diagnosis and Management of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Elderly Adults: A Review of the Literature.

The estimated prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in the general population is 3% to 8%. As the average age of the population in the United States and other countries continues to increase, the overall prevalence of SCH may also be expected to increase. Although age-related changes in thyroid function are well described, normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference limits, derived for age-specific populations, are not routinely used to identify thyroid dysfunction in elderly adults.

Clinical perspectives on the rationale for potassium supplementation.

Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte disturbance, observed in > 20% of hospitalized patients. Hypokalemia, although not formally defined, is generally considered to be when serum potassium levels fall below the normal value of 3.6 mmol/L.

Reversible morbidity markers in subclinical hypothyroidism.

Importance: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common clinical entity with a putative role in a wide range of disorders. The impact of SCH on mortality and markers of morbidity has been demonstrated, but studies have shown inconsistent results. Evidence regarding the effect of levothyroxine treatment on reversing morbidity markers is emerging, but the value of treatment is still unclear.