Clinical insights into levothyroxine overdose: A systematic review

Table 3 Comparative analysis of patient characteristics and clinical outcomes based on levothyroxine use for non-suicidal vs intentional suicidal purposes, n (%)/median (25^th-75^th percentiles)/mean ± SD¹

Characteristic/outcome	Not for suicide (n = 47)	Intentional for suicide (n = 46)	P value
Age (years)	3.5 (1.5-18)	35.5 (19-49)	< 0.001
Highest heart rate (beats/minute)	119 (100-140)	100 (85-120)	0.02
Highest systolic BP (mm Hg)	110 (95-123)	120 (110-132)	0.06
Highest diastolic BP (mm Hg)	66.39 ± 11.74	78.35 ± 12.05	0.003
Highest AST/SGOT (U/L)	35.5 (31-40)	22 (17.5-47.5)	0.05
Highest ALT/SGPT (U/L)	18 (13-24)	13 (11-19)	0.25
Cumulative levothyroxine dose (μg)	4054 (1000-14000)	4250 (1485-9700)	0.802
Treatment
Activated charcoal	15 (31.91)	12 (26.09)	0.53
Gastric lavage	4 (8.51)	1 (2.17)	0.36
Cholestyramine	1 (2.13)	3 (6.52)	0.36
Steroids	11 (23.4)	6 (13.04)	0.19
Beta blockers	20 (42.55)	11 (23.91)	0.057
Methimazole	2 (4.26)	1 (2.17)	1
Propylthiouracil	3 (6.38)	3 (6.52)	1
Plasmapheresis	7 (14.89)	0
Intubation	2 (4.26)	0
In hospital mortality	1 (2.13)	0

¹Some patients received more than one treatment, resulting in a total treatment count exceeding the total number of patients in the respective groups.

AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; SGOT: Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; SGPT: Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; BP: Blood pressure.