Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of Untreated Adult Patients With Resistance to Thyroid Hormone Alpha

Thyroid hormone resistance due to pathogenic variants in thyroid hormone receptor alpha (THRA) is rare and descriptions of patients are sparse. The disorder is probably underdiagnosed as patients may have normal thyroid function tests. Treatment with thyroxine in childhood improves clinical symptoms. However, it is not clear if treatment has beneficial effects if started in adulthood.

We investigated 4 previously untreated Caucasian adult first-degree-related patients with the THRA c.788C > T, p.(Ala263Val) variant identified by a gene panel for intellectual disability in the index patient. Clinical data and previous investigations were obtained from medical reports.

During childhood and adolescence, short stature, short limbs, metacarpals, and phalanges, and delayed bone age maturation were observed. Delayed motor and language development and decreased intellectual and learning abilities were described. Abdominal adiposity, round face, and increased head circumference were common features. All individuals complained of tiredness, constipation, and low mood. While thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were within the reference range, free triiodothyronine (FT3) was high. FT4/FT3 ratio and reverse T3 were low. Other main features were low hemoglobin and high LDL/HDL ratio.

Investigation of 4 first-degree-related adult patients with untreated resistance to thyroid hormone alpha (RTHα) revealed more pronounced phenotype features and hypothyroid symptoms than previously described in patients treated with levothyroxine from childhood or adolescence. The delay in diagnosis is probably due to normal thyroid function tests. We suggest that THRA analysis should be performed in patients with specific clinical features, as treatment in early childhood may improve outcomes.