[The efficacy of replacement therapy with L-thyroxine in manifest and latent forms of hypothyroidism]

Individual sensitivity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid system was studied in 12 patients with various degrees of euthyroid hyperplasia in the first 2 days of thyroxine therapy and during prolonged therapy. The effectiveness of thyroxine substitution therapy was compared with that of therapy with thyroid drugs in 55 patients with hypothyroidism. Euthyroid hyperplasia of III degree was accompanied by a more marked decrease in the level of TSH than in II degree, however during 3 mos. of therapy the size of the gland did not change. L-thyroxine administration for substitution therapy for 3-5 mos. was accompanied by a stable decrease in the level of TSH and improvement of clinical indices in hypothyroidism.