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The relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and pediatric congenital hypothyroidism patients

Yu-Wen Pan1, Meng-Che Tsai1, Yao-Jong Yang1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
|August 11, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) is linked to a higher prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), even with early treatment. Obesity and elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are also key risk factors for NAFLD in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Hepatology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Hypothyroidism is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults.
  • Limited research exists on the NAFLD-hypothyroidism link in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine NAFLD prevalence in pediatric congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) patients.
  • To investigate the association between CHT and NAFLD in children.

Main Methods:

  • Study included pediatric CHT patients on levothyroxine, euthyroid (ET) subjects, and transient hypothyroidism (THT) patients.
  • Collected laboratory data on thyroid function, liver function, and metabolic profiles.
  • NAFLD diagnosis based on abdominal ultrasonography.

Main Results:

  • CHT group showed higher fasting glucose, insulin, thyroxine (T4), and mean TSH levels.
  • NAFLD prevalence was significantly higher in CHT (23.4%) compared to THT (8.5%) and ET (5.7%) groups.
  • Obesity, CHT, and mean TSH levels were independent risk factors for NAFLD.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric CHT patients have an increased risk of NAFLD, irrespective of early treatment.
  • Elevated TSH levels correlate positively with lipid profiles.
  • Close monitoring of metabolic profiles and further research into optimizing CHT treatment for NAFLD prevention are recommended.

Keywords:
congenital hypothyroidismnonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseobesity

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