Thyroid dysfunction in institutionalised Down's syndrome adults.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Genetics
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Down syndrome is associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases.
• Thyroid dysfunction is a common comorbidity in individuals with Down syndrome.
• Previous studies report varying rates of thyroid hypofunction in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in institutionalized individuals with Down syndrome.
• To compare thyroid function and antibody presence between Down syndrome subjects and controls.
• To establish recommendations for thyroid screening in Down syndrome.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted with 111 institutionalized Down syndrome subjects and 74 controls.
• Thyroid function tests (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism) were performed.
• Thyroid microsomal antibodies were measured.

Main Results:

• The Down syndrome group showed a significantly higher risk of hypothyroidism (9%) and hyperthyroidism (1.8%) compared to controls.
• Thyroid microsomal antibodies were present in 29% of the Down syndrome group, a significantly higher rate than controls.
• While lower than some previous reports, the observed rates indicate a notable risk of thyroid dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with Down syndrome have an elevated risk for thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
• Routine thyroid function testing is recommended for older Down syndrome subjects.
• Special attention should be given to the clinical status of Down syndrome individuals with positive thyroid microsomal antibodies.