Thyroid function and morphology in patients affected by Williams syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of abnormalities of thyroid function and morphology in a cohort of patients with Williams syndrome (WS).


METHODS
Serum concentrations of free-T3, free-T4, TSH, thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOA) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgA), as well as ultrasonographic data, of 20 patients with WS (12 females and eight males), aged 1.7-34.9 years, were evaluated.


RESULTS
Three cases (15%) of subclinical hypothyroidism were identified. Overt hypothyroidism was diagnosed in two cases (10%). Thyroid antibodies were negative in all patients. Fourteen patients (70%) showed thyroid hypoplasia involving the entire gland. In these patients, the left thyroid lobe appeared usually, but not significantly, reduced compared with the right thyroid lobe. One patient (5%) showed thyroid hemiagenesis. Only five patients (25%) showed a thyroid with normal volume, and of these five, one patient showed marked thyroid hypoplasia of the left lobe. In all WS patients with diagnosis of subclinical or overt hypothyroidism, thyroid hypoplasia was detected. No cases of subclinical or overt hypothyroidism were found in WS with normal thyroid volume.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the presence of alterations of thyroid function in WS and also suggests the frequent occurrence of abnormalities of thyroid morphology in these patients. Patients with WS should be monitored for thyroid function and a thyroid ultrasound screening should be considered, especially in those patients with changes in thyroid function.
Stagi
Stefano
S
Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Univeristy of Florence, A. Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Bindi
Giuseppe
G
Neri
Anna Silvia
AS
Lapi
Elisabetta
E
Losi
Stefania
S
Jenuso
Rita
R
Salti
Roberto
R
Chiarelli
Francesco
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine