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Endocrine function in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
L J Schwartz1, Y St Louis, R Wu
1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467.
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Pediatric endocrine dysfunction may contribute to failure to thrive in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Some patients showed compensated hypothyroidism, a potentially correctable issue.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Research
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) is a concern in pediatric HIV infection.
- Endocrine dysfunction is a potential, yet understudied, contributor to FTT in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endocrine dysfunction in explaining failure to thrive (FTT) among pediatric patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Main Methods:
- Endocrine evaluation of 14 HIV-infected pediatric patients with adequate nutritional status.
- Assessment of growth hormone, cortisol, somatomedin C, and thyroid function (thyrotropin, thyroid-releasing hormone).
Main Results:
- Adequate growth hormone and cortisol responses were observed.
- Low somatomedin C levels were found in 8 of 12 subjects.
- 36% (5/14) of patients exhibited elevated thyrotropin levels, indicating compensated hypothyroidism despite normal thyroid function.
Conclusions:
- Subtle thyroid regulation alterations, specifically compensated hypothyroidism, may contribute to FTT in some pediatric HIV patients.
- These endocrine findings represent a potentially correctable factor in managing FTT in this cohort.