Congenital hypothyroidism: age at start of treatment versus outcome.
We studied 27 patients with congenital hypothyroidism by neurological and psychometric methods. 7 healthy siblings served as a control group for the psychometric evaluation. In 7 patients treatment had been started before the age of 1 month and in 10 patients after the age of 3 months. Our findings suggest that the progressive loss of intelligence potential starts from birth but if treatment is begun before the age of 1 month, then intelligence remains within normal range. The neurological damage seems to originate partly before birth, but more serious injuries arise if treatment is delayed beyond the age of 3 months.
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013963:Thyroid Hormones