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Treatment variables as predictors of intellectual outcome in children with congenital hypothyroidism

  • Endocrinology
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess how much of the variance in intellectual outcome at 2 and 6 years of age could be attributed to treatment variables in children with congenital hypothyroidism, and which of the parameters used for monitoring treatment predicted later development. Forty-five children, early treated according to general recommendations, were studied. Linear multiple regression analysis was used, controlling for socio-economic status and the pretreatment serum thyroxine concentration. At 2 years of age, 19% of the variance in Mental Development Index (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) was attributed to treatment variables: combinations of serum thyroxine and serum TSH during the 1st year and bone age at mean age 1.5 years (meanz-scores). At 6 years of age, 35% of the variance in Verbal IQ (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) was attributed to treatment variables: 13% to the mean serum thyroxine concentration during the 1st year, 12% to the initiall-thyroxine dose per kilogram body weight per day, and 10% to a combined measure for serum thyroxine and serum TSH during the 2nd year (meanz-score).

Conclusion

Both the initiall-thyroxine dosage and treatment variables during the 1st and the 2nd year (serum thyroxine, serum TSH and bone age) predicted later intellectual outcome in children with congenital hypothyroidism.

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Abbreviations

T 4 :

thyroxine

TSH :

thyrotropin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Rikshospitalet, N-0027, Oslo, Norway

    Sonja Heyerdahl

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  1. Sonja Heyerdahl
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Heyerdahl, S. Treatment variables as predictors of intellectual outcome in children with congenital hypothyroidism. Eur J Pediatr 155, 357–361 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955261

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955261

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