title: Pericardial effusion as a sign of acquired hypothyroidism in children with Down syndrome.
abstract: In three children with Down syndrome and acquired hypothyroidism echocardiography was performed before and after the start of L-thyroxine treatment. Initial studies revealed pericardial effusions which resolved during treatment suggesting that they were caused by hypothyroidism. The incidence of hypothyroidism in Down syndrome is high, but the diagnosis is often missed for lack of specific clinical criteria. The finding of pericardial effusion by echocardiography may be essential in discovering thyroid dysfunction. The cases illustrate that regular thyroid function tests are important in Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Kinderspital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Werder
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torresani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navratil
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arbenz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eiholzer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwarzenbach
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hunziker
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine