Growth and development of 280 hypothyroidic patients at diagnosis

The growth and development of 280 hypothyroidic patients who were diagnosed from 1979 to 1991, has been evaluated by standardized anthropometric criteria. According to the chronologic age during the diagnosis, the patients were divided into five groups of 0-6, 7-12, 13-24, 25-60 and 61-144 months. In these groups, the rates of the patients' weights and heights which were found below the 5th percentile, were as follows; for height 44%, 69%, 71%, 85%, 80% and for weight 38%, 68%, 70%, 55%, 60% respectively. Height age, weight age, head circumference age, and bone age were found to be significantly lower than chronologic age in all the groups, with the exception of the head circumference age in the 0-6 months group. The bone age was found to be significantly retarded compared to the height age in all the groups.