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Severe hypothyroidism presenting as obstructive sleep apnea

Dennis Rosen1

  • 1Children's Hospital Boston, MA, USA. dennis.rosen@childrens.harvard.edu,

Clinical Pediatrics
|February 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with Down syndrome (DS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have underlying hypothyroidism. Treating this thyroid condition led to full resolution of OSA in a 5-year-old patient.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Down syndrome (DS) is associated with an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • Thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, is also more prevalent in children with DS.

Observation:

  • A 5-year-old child with Down syndrome presented with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
  • The child was subsequently diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism.

Findings:

  • Treatment with levothyroxine for 3 months resulted in the complete resolution of obstructive sleep apnea.
  • This case highlights a potential causal link between hypothyroidism and OSA in children with DS.

Implications:

  • Routine thyroid function screening is crucial for children with Down syndrome, especially those with OSA.
  • Identifying and treating hypothyroidism can lead to the resolution of obstructive sleep apnea in this population.
  • This approach may offer a targeted therapy for OSA beyond standard treatments in children with DS.

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