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Thyroid dysfunction in Down syndrome
C K Shaw1, A Thapalial, S Nanda
1Department of Paediatrics, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal. shaw_1974@rediffmail.com
Insights
This study found that 15.6% of children with Down syndrome have hypothyroidism, a common thyroid dysfunction. Regular screening for thyroid issues in these children is recommended to manage potential health complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is frequently associated with thyroid dysfunction, primarily hypothyroidism.
- Co-occurring conditions in DS can exacerbate health issues, making thyroid function monitoring crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in children with Down syndrome under 14 years.
- To investigate correlations between Down syndrome features and thyroid dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 32 children with Down syndrome.
- Classification into euthyroid, compensated hypothyroidism, and uncompensated hypothyroidism groups based on T3, T4, and TSH levels.
- Statistical comparison of features using the student's t-test.
Main Results:
- Hypothyroidism was identified in 15.6% of cases (5/32), including 3.1% uncompensated and 12.5% compensated.
- No cases of hyperthyroidism were observed.
- Higher hypothyroidism prevalence in infants (0-1 year) suggests congenital hypothyroidism, while in older children (9-12 years) it may indicate acquired forms. Developmental quotients and Rao's indices showed non-significant differences between hypothyroid and euthyroid DS groups.
Conclusions:
- Routine thyroid dysfunction screening is essential for all children with Down syndrome.
- Early detection and management of thyroid dysfunction can mitigate associated health problems in this population.
Background:
Down syndrome is associated with various forms of thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism being the most common. The additive effects of both co-morbid conditions lead to further amplification of the clinical problems in these children with Down syndrome.
Objective:
The purpose of this prospective study was to know the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Down Syndrome children below the age of 14 years and to correlate the features of Down Syndrome with those of thyroid dysfunction.
Methods:
In all 32 Down syndrome children were grouped as euthyroid, compensated and uncompensated hypothyroidism on the basis of their T3, T4 and TSH levels and the features of were compared using the student's t-test.
Results:
Hypothyroidism was seen in 5 out of 32 cases (15.6%) of which 1 (3.1%) had uncompensated while the other 4 (12.5%) had a compensated hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was not observed in any of the cases. The prevalence of hypothyroidism of 16.7% on the age group 0-1 year could well be a reflection of congenital hypothyroidism while 20% prevalence in the age group 9-12 could imply acquired hypothyroidism. The mean values of the developmental quotient (D.Q.) and the Rao's index in Down syndrome cases with hypothyroidism was 49 5.1 and 0.15 0.06 respectively while that of euthyroid Down syndrome patients were 52 5.54 and 0.17 0.04 respectively ('p' value > 0.05), the differences though obvious yet not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
It thus seems necessary to screen all Down syndrome children for thyroid dysfunction.
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