title: Selenium deficiency and hypothyroidism: a new etiology in the differential diagnosis of hypothyroidism in children.
abstract: Three female children presented with different clinical symptoms that could be related to impaired thyroid function. They underwent an accurate pediatric-endocrinologic diagnosis. Laboratory tests revealed no pathological findings, except latent hypothyroidism and selenium deficiency. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed by elevated basal TSH and by a pathological i.v.-TRH-stimulation test. After treating the children with sodium selenite orally for 4 wk, their metabolism had returned to normal and we saw a marked improvement of all clinical symptoms. For the first time, we have been able to describe hypothyroidism caused exclusively by selenium deficiency, the pathophysiology of which may be expressed as a malfunction of human 5'-deiodinases.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzulli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007223:Infant; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007455:Iodine / Q000652:urine; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite