Influence of timing and dose of thyroid hormone replacement on mental, psychomotor, and behavioral development in children with congenital hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of initial and postinitial treatment factors on cognitive, psychomotor, and psychological outcome in schoolchildren with congenital hypothyroidism (CH).


METHODS
We studied 45 patients (19 with severe CH and 26 with mild CH) and 37 control children by correlating initial and postinitial treatment factors (free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] concentrations, and the percentage of overtreatment and undertreatment periods) with the results of neuropsychological tests and behavior (as reported on the Teacher Report Form [TRF]).


RESULTS
The global IQ of the children with CH was comparable to that of the controls; visuomotor and verbal scores were lower, and total TRF scores were higher. Ethnic group, previous development, and overtreatment predicted IQ and verbal scores, with higher scores seen for the overtreated patients than for the control children and those patients who had not been overtreated. As initial treatment was less satisfactory, total TRF scores were higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that initial and postinitial suboptimal treatment of CH leads to abnormalities in IQ and specific fields. Overtreatment may advance cognitive development in 5-1/2- to 7-year-olds. Suboptimal initial treatment may lead to behavioral problems. We recommend that TSH concentrations be maintained within the normal range in patients with CH.
Bongers-Schokking
Jacoba J
JJ
Department of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. abongers@worldonline.nl
de Muinck Keizer-Schrama
Sabine M P F
SM
D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine