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Neurocognitive function in children with compensated hypothyroidism: lack of short term effects on or off thyroxin
Naghma J Aijaz1, Evelyn M Flaherty, Thomas Preston
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA. naghma@pol.net
Insights
Thyroxin therapy did not significantly impact cognitive function in children with subclinical hypothyroidism over a short period. While these children may exhibit attention issues, their verbal, visual, and motor skills remain within normal ranges.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Limited data exists on thyroxin therapy's effects in children with compensated or subclinical hypothyroidism.
- Thyroxin is known to benefit children with overt hypothyroidism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of thyroxin therapy on cognitive function in children with compensated hypothyroidism.
- To test the hypothesis that thyroxin therapy alters neuropsychological function.
Main Methods:
- Eleven children with subclinical hypothyroidism participated.
- Neuropsychological testing and thyroid function tests were conducted before and after a 91-day intervention period involving thyroxin adjustments.
Main Results:
- Thyroxin therapy showed no significant effect on neuropsychological function in this short-term study.
- Patients exhibited attention problems compared to the general population.
- No significant differences were found in verbal processing, visual processing, motor speed/coordination, or achievement.
Conclusions:
- Short-term thyroxin therapy did not alter neuropsychological function in children with compensated hypothyroidism.
- These children may have attention deficits but generally possess normal cognitive and motor skills.
Background:
Although thyroxin therapy clearly is beneficial to children with frank hypothyroidism there is little data on the effects of thyroxin in children with compensated or subclinical hypothyroidism. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of thyroxin therapy on cognitive function in children with compensated hypothyroidism. The hypothesis was that thyroxin therapy would change neuropsychological function.
Methods:
Eleven patients with a history of sub clinical hypothyroidism entered the study. At the start of the study, six out of the 11 were on thyroxin therapy, while 5 were off therapy. All patients underwent a battery of neuropsychological testing and thyroid function tests at the start of study. Based on the results of thyroid function tests, two of the 5 patients who were off thyroxin were started back on thyroxin. All of the 6 patients who were on thyroxin were taken off thyroxin. All patients then underwent repeat neuropsychological testing and thyroid functions after an average of 91 days.
Results:
Thyroxin therapy could not be shown to have an effect on neuropsychological function in this short term study. Our patients had attention problems as compared to the normal population. No significant differences were found between our subjects and normal population standards in verbal processing, visual processing, motor speed/coordination and achievement.
Conclusion:
In this small, short term study, thyroxin therapy could not be shown to affect neuropsychological function in children with compensated hypothyroidism. These children may have attention problems but appear to have normal verbal and visual processing, motor speed/coordination and achievement.
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