Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40329276›Full record

SynthesisBMC neurology2025

Effectiveness of low dose thyroxine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and migraine; systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alia Alokley, Maryam N ALNasser, Razan Anwar Alabdulqader, Faisal Abdulhamid Aljohni, Duaa Hussain Alqadhib, Rose Khalid Aljuaid, Montather Akeel Alshik Ali, Shahad Shadi Hanbazazah, Abdullah Almaqhawi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Alia AlokleyDepartments of Clinical Neurosciences, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Maryam N ALNasserDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Razan Anwar AlabdulqaderCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal Abdulhamid AljohniCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Duaa Hussain AlqadhibCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Rose Khalid AljuaidKing Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Medicine, P.O. Box 14611, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Montather Akeel Alshik AliCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Shahad Shadi HanbazazahCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah AlmaqhawiDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Aalmuqahwi@kfu.edu.sa.

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University KFU242683
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSubclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels alongside normal free thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels. Emerging evidence suggests a link between SCH and migraine disorders, including both episodic and chronic migraine. Given this association, researchers have explored whether correcting mild thyroid dysfunction with low-dose levothyroxine could alleviate migraine symptoms in affected individuals. This study investigates the potential efficacy of low-dose thyroid replacement therapy in reducing migraine frequency and severity among patients with comorbid SCH and migraine.

methodsA search was conducted on Cochrane Central, Medline, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs), case-control studies, and cohort research studies evaluating the use of low-dose thyroxine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).

resultsThis review analyzed four studies, two of which qualified for meta-analysis. The findings suggest a potential association between (SCH) and migraine. Notably, levothyroxine treatment in hypothyroid patients appeared to correlate with reduced migraine frequency and headache severity. However, while the meta-analysis showed a trend toward migraine reduction with thyroxine therapy, the results did not reach statistical significance - likely due to the limited study sample included in the analysis.

conclusionThe study highlights the importance of thyroid screening in migraine management, due to the link between hypothyroidism and migraines. It recommends routine thyroid function assessments for migraine patients and suggests personalized treatment approaches. Early intervention can minimize migraine episodes and improve quality of life. Adherence to low dose levothyroxine regimens can reduce migraine frequency. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, optimize treatment protocols, and explore potential comorbidities.

Indexed as

HypothyroidismMigraine DisordersThyroxineHumansThyroxineHeadacheHypothyroidismLevothyroxineMigraine

Identifiers

PMID40329276
PMCPMC12057156

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.