title: [Congenital hypothyroidism and the impact of thyroxine treatment].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have studied the significance of the thyroxine treatment for neuropsychological functioning in young adults with congenital hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a neuropsychological follow-up study of a three-year cohort of early treated congenital hypothyroidism in Norway (N = 49) at age 20. Siblings comprise the control group (N = 41, 21 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient group performed weaker than the control group on cognitive and motor measures. They reported somewhat more psychosocial problems; fewer completed high school. A more severe hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis was associated with a larger motor deficit at age 20. Better cognitive function in young adulthood was associated with a higher thyroxine starting dose and serum thyroxine level in the first years of life. Blood samples in young adulthood showed elevated thyrotropin levels in 45% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the new guidelines for treatment of congenital hypothyroidism with a higher starting dose of 10-15 microg thyroxine/kg/24 hours. The young adults are in need of better medical follow up.
authors.affiliation: Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse, Helseregion Øst & Sør (R-BUP), Postboks 23 Tåsen, 0801 Oslo.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ørbeck
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundet
authors.forename: Jens Veilemand
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Bengt Frode
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heyerdahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine