A study of therapeutic effect of the growth of children with hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to see the therapeutic effect of the growth of children who was diagnosed as hypothyroidism.


METHODS
Thirty-four children with primary hypothyroidism were included in this study. Height, weight and head circumference were measured at initial diagnosis and at every follow up visit. Thyroid function was done. The value was interpreted as abnormal if the range was above or below the normal (T3=70-200 u/L, T4=4-13 u/L, TSH=0.3-6 u/L). X-ray to see the bone age for the chronological age was performed. The value was interpreted as abnormal if the ossification center for the chronological age in inappropriate. Treatment was started with Eltroxine from the day of diagnosis. Dose was adjusted according to the response to the medicine. T3, T4 and TSH level was taken as the guideline to adjust the dose of the drug. X-ray was considered in the follow up where it was indicated.


RESULTS
Marked improvement in the anthropometry was seen in comparison to the initial assessment which was well correlated with the normalization of the TSH level and the x-ray of the bone.


CONCLUSIONS
Serial follow up of these patients was necessary in order to assess the growth in height, weight and head circumference along with the repeated thyroid function to correlate the response of the drug.
Bajracharya
B L
BL
Department of Paediatrics, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. blbajracharya@mail.com.np
Baral
M R
MR
Thapa Chhetri
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D009390:Nepal; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000209:etiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine