title: Cardiovascular effects of long-term L-thyroxine therapy for Hashimoto's thyroiditis in children and adolescents.
abstract: Morphology and function of the left ventricle were evaluated by echo and Doppler examination in 16 females affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, aged 13.3 (4.5) years (range 7.9-24.6). They were on L-thyroxine (L-T4) treatment for a period of 2.8 (2.8) years (range 0.8-7.6) with a mean daily dose of 77 (18) micrograms/m2. Left ventricular mass, systolic and diastolic function, cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance did not differ from a control group matched for age, sex and body size. A further analysis of the patients according to thyrotrophin serum levels (less or more than 0.1 mU/l) gave similar results. Moreover, no relationship was found between echocardiographic findings and age, L-T4 daily doses, duration of treatment and serum level of thyroid hormones. We can therefore conclude that chronic L-T4 treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis at the given doses did not affect cardiac function and morphology in children and adolescents; however, a longer follow-up is needed before confirming the safety of this therapy in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Regional Hospital of Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paganini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crepaz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pittscheider
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gentili
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine