[Growth and maturation in the patients with congenital hypothyroidism detected by the neonatal screening program in Catalonia, Spain (1986-1997)].
OBJECTIVE
Many countries have developed screening programs for CH that bring about a normal somatic and psychological development. The aim of this study is to evaluate the evolution of cases detected by the screening program of congenital hypothyroidism in Catalonia.


METHODS
The was a descriptive, longitudinal study of a series of 136 cases of congenital hypothyroidism detected by the screening program in Catalonia from 1986 to 1997 and who had been checked in the Maternal-infantile Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. Follow-up was carried out for growth and a psychological exploration was performed (McCarthy test and WISC-R).


RESULTS
Males (30 cases, 22.1%) and females (106 cases, 77.9%) with congenital hypothyroidism of this study had a height, weight and BMI that were not different from those of the current population of Barcelona. Height was 0.5 SD above the Tanner reference values of 1966 and BMI was one SD above the Roland-Cachera reference values of 1982. This secular acceleration of growth has been observed in all developed countries. In a sample of 37.5% of the cases, psychological development did not differ from that of the reference population. However, a greater intensity of neonatal hypothyroidism and its most delayed normalization correlated negatively with the score in the psychological tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Once normalization of growth and psychological development are achieved, the screening program of congenital hypothyroidism in Catalonia should be optimized by initiating treatment as soon as possible to avoid the possibility that some children do not reach their complete intellectual potential.
Gibert Agulló
Anna
A
Servicio de Pediatría y Endocrinología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. agibert.cp.ics@gencat.cat
Vicens-Calvet
Enric
E
Carrascosa Lezcano
Antonio
A
Bargadá Esteve
María
M
Potau Vilalta
Neus
N
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D013030:Spain