Evaluation of thyroid function tests among children with neurological disorders.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Thyroid hormones (THs) are crucial for normal brain development.
• Thyroid dysfunction is linked to cognitive impairments.
• The role of thyroid function tests in diagnosing neurological disorders remains controversial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between thyroid function and neurological disorders in children.
• To evaluate the potential of thyroid function tests as diagnostic markers for neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• A combined meta-analysis and case-control study.
• Systematic literature search for meta-analysis.
• Recruited 11,836 children (7,035 cases, 4,801 controls) for case-control study.
• Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test and Benjamini-Hochberg procedure.

Main Results:

• Meta-analysis showed decreased free thyroxine (FT4) in children with neurological disorders.
• Case-control study revealed significantly reduced FT4, total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TG-Ab) in cases versus controls.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels did not differ significantly between groups in either analysis.

Conclusions:

• Children with neurological disorders exhibit lower FT4 levels compared to controls.
• FT4 may serve as a potential serum marker for neurological disorders in children.
• Further research is needed to confirm if thyroid function assessment should be routine screening.