ritonavir and Hypothyroidism

A case of probable interaction of levothyroxine and ritonavir is presented along with a review of the relevant literature and recommendations on clinical management.. A 37-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus infection who had recently undergone thyroidectomy for a benign multinodular goiter presented to a clinic with hypothyroidism (she was also found to be pregnant), and treatment with levothyroxine 75 μg daily was initiated. While receiving antiretroviral therapy (abacavir-lamivudine and lopinavir-ritonavir) during pregnancy, the patient had persistently elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations (up to 125.89 μIU/mL) despite gradual escalation of the levothyroxine dosage to 175 μg daily. An interaction between ritonavir and levothyroxine was suspected, and dolutegravir was substituted for lopinavir-ritonavir. Within 4 months, the TSH concentration had normalized. The daily levothyroxine dose was tapered over a 5-month period and stabilized at 125 μg, and TSH concentrations remained within the normal range over an 18-month follow-up period. Scoring of the case using the Drug Interaction Probability Scale yielded a score of 6 out of 11, indicating a probable interaction between levothyroxine and ritonavir. A literature search identified 4 reported cases of interactions involving levothyroxine and ritonavir.. A potentially serious and underrecognized drug interaction between ritonavir and levothyroxine was observed in a pregnant woman with postthyroidectomy-related hypothyroidism. This case and a review of other cases reported in the literature indicate that higher-than-usual doses of levothyroxine may be required in patients who are taking ritonavir concurrently.

Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Ritonavir; Thyroxine

The COVID-19 pandemic presents two main concerns for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG); chronic immunosuppression may put them at greater risk, and some proposed treatments for COVID-19 could cause MG exacerbation.. We present three patients with generalized seropositive MG who developed COVID-19. All patients had a favorable outcome, with only one patient experiencing exacerbation. In this case, exacerbation began before COVID-19; she required ICU admission, non-invasive ventilatory support, and received hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and ritonavir which were well tolerated. One patient received IVIG in place of scheduled plasma exchange.. Outcome was favorable in all cases despite immunosuppressive therapy, use of experimental COVID-19 medication and switching of plasma exchange for IVIG.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Azithromycin; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Hypertension; Hypothyroidism; Immunocompromised Host; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lopinavir; Male; Myasthenia Gravis; Pandemics; Plasmapheresis; Pneumonia, Viral; Ritonavir; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Drug Interactions; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Lopinavir; Middle Aged; Pyrimidinones; Ritonavir; Thyroxine