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Children with hyperthyroidism may be tall and underweight, and they continue to grow well when treated
The background of the study. Hyperthyroidism in
children has been associated with rapid growth, poor weight gain,
and delayed puberty. In this study, the growth and pubertal development
of children with hyperthyroidism was determined before and during
antithyroid drug therapy.
How the study was done. The study subjects were 101 children (78 girls, 23 boys) with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease. All were treated an antithyroid drug.
Height and weight were measured and pubertal stage was determined at base line and at regular intervals thereafter. The growth, bone age, and body-mass–index results were expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS), defined as the deviation from the mean value for normal subjects of the same sex and age. Predicted height was calculated from midparental height corrected for sex.
The results of the study. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 6 months (range, 1 to 36). The mean height SDS was positive and the body-mass–index SDS was negative in both girls and boys.
The mean follow-up period was 5 years (range, 1 to 14), during which 82 children reached their final heights. Final height was greater than the predicted height in the prepubertal and pubertal girls and boys, ranging from 0.4 cm in the pubertal girls to 7.6 cm in the pubertal boys.
During treatment, the body-mass index increased and then plateaued in the prepubertal and pubertal girls and boys. At final height, the body-mass–index SDS was just below 0 in the prepubertal girls and boys, just above 0 in the pubertal girls, and approximately -0.65 in the pubertal boys.
The conclusions of the study. Height is increased and body-mass index is low in children with hyperthyroidism. Growth continues during antithyroid drug therapy, and therefore final height may be greater than predicted.
The original article. Cassio A, Corrias A, Gualandi S, Tato L, Cesaretti G, Volta C, Weber G, Bona G, Cappa M, Bal M, Bellone J, Cicognani A. Influence of gender and pubertal stage at diagnosis on growth outcome in childhood thyrotoxicosis: results of a collaborative study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2006;64:53-7.
Next Article:
Long-term quality of life may be decreased in patients with
hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease |
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| Thyroid Digest Index | | | March 2006 Thyroid Digest |
