Catch-up growth after prolonged hypothyroidism.
This report presents an analysis of four patients who suffered from longstanding untreated hypothyroidism, with special attention to the phase of catch-up growth after the start of L-thyroxine treatment. Although a permanent height loss could not be prevented, the capacity to establish a remarkable catch-up growth spurt proved to be still intact, even after a long period of thyroid dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Catch-up growth in hypothyroidism may be incomplete if treatment has been started shortly before or during puberty.
Boersma
B
B
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Otten
B J
BJ
Stoelinga
G B
GB
Wit
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D013974:Thyroxine