Natural history of thyroid function in adults with Down syndrome--10-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
The natural history of thyroid function in adults with Down syndrome (DS) is unknown.


METHODS
This study investigated annual thyroid function tests in 200 adults with DS over a 10-year period.


RESULTS
Transient and persistent thyroid dysfunction was common. The 5- and 10-year incidence of definite hypothyroidism was 0.9%-1.64% and 13.6%, respectively. Subclinical hypothyroidism was not found to be an early sign for definite hypothyroidism.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine screening for adults with DS who are euthyroid can be reduced to every 5 years rather than the present policy of every 1-2 years.
Prasher
V
V
Greenfields, Kings Norton, Birmingham, UK. vprasher@compuserve.com
Gomez
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013995:Time; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D013972:Thyrotropin