Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
08:03

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model

Published on: November 4, 2025

Abnormal responses to TRH in children born small for gestational age that failed to catch up

Ana Keselman1, Ana Chiesa, Saúl Malozowski

  • 1Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, CEDIE, Buenos Aires, Argentina. akeselman@cedie.org.ar

Hormone Research
|September 5, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Thyroid abnormalities are common in short small for gestational age (SGA) children, potentially stemming from intrauterine growth issues affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Disorders
  • Thyroid Function

Background:

  • 15% of small for gestational age (SGA) children remain short and require thyroid axis evaluation.
  • Thyroid dysfunction is a potential concern in the management of SGA short stature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate thyroid axis function in short children born small for gestational age.
  • To identify potential abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of thyroid assessment data from 58 SGA children, including TSH, FT4, antithyroid antibodies, and TRH tests.
  • Comparison of SGA children with normal and abnormal TRH test responses to a control group of normal children.

Main Results:

  • Basal TSH levels were statistically different in SGA children with abnormal TRH tests compared to controls.
  • No significant differences in FT4 levels were observed across groups.
  • Treatment with thyroxine normalized TSH in affected children without altering BMI SDS or height.

Conclusions:

  • Thyroid abnormalities may occur in short SGA children, possibly related to altered intrauterine programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.
  • Intrauterine growth retardation might permanently impact endocrine system development.
  • Long-term follow-up is necessary to validate these findings and understand their clinical significance.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction14:19

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Published on: June 29, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:23

Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hypothyroidism is a disorder characterized by insufficient production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, energy balance, and multiple organ systems.TypesHypothyroidism is classified based on the level of dysfunction. Primary hypothyroidism results from intrinsic thyroid gland dysfunction, causing reduced hormone production despite normal or increased stimulation. Secondary hypothyroidism arises from inadequate thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion by the pituitary. Tertiary...
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones01:20

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology01:24

Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) that activate TSH receptors, leading to excessive synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and resulting in hyperthyroidism.Among all causes of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease is the most common and can happen at any age, though it is more frequent in women. It produces a hypermetabolic state with features such as weight loss, tachycardia, tremor, and heat...