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Published on: March 17, 2023
[Congenital hypothyroidism and the impact of thyroxine treatment]
Beate Ørbeck1, Kjetil Sundet, Jens Veilemand Jørgensen
1Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse, Helseregion Øst & Sør (R-BUP), Postboks 23 Tåsen, 0801 Oslo.
Background:
We have studied the significance of the thyroxine treatment for neuropsychological functioning in young adults with congenital hypothyroidism.
Subjects And Methods:
This is a neuropsychological follow-up study of a three-year cohort of early treated congenital hypothyroidism in Norway (N = 49) at age 20. Siblings comprise the control group (N = 41, 21 years).
Results:
The patient group performed weaker than the control group on cognitive and motor measures. They reported somewhat more psychosocial problems; fewer completed high school. A more severe hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis was associated with a larger motor deficit at age 20. Better cognitive function in young adulthood was associated with a higher thyroxine starting dose and serum thyroxine level in the first years of life. Blood samples in young adulthood showed elevated thyrotropin levels in 45% of the patients.
Interpretation:
This study supports the new guidelines for treatment of congenital hypothyroidism with a higher starting dose of 10-15 microg thyroxine/kg/24 hours. The young adults are in need of better medical follow up.
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