Aggressive Behavior and Fire-Setting in a 4-Year-Old Boy Associated with Ingestion of Ground Beef Contaminated with Bovine Thyroid Tissue: A Case Report and Review of Neuropsychiatrie Findings in Pediatric Thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

An epidemic of thyrotoxieosis in 1984-1985 was traced to the ingestion of ground beef that was contaminated by bovine thyroid tissue in the tri-state area of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. This article describes a case of possible thyrotoxicosis-induced violent aggressiveness and firesetting in a 4-year-old boy affected by this epidemic. Although psychosocial factors were initially considered primary, dietary factors eventually proven to be etiologic. This child showed spontaneous decreases in violent behavior during two admissions to a hospital (where thyroid-laced beef was not available) and recurrences with returning home (where he ate contaminated ground beef). A literature review on neuropsychiatrie manifestations of pédiatrie thyrotoxieosis revealed that thyrotoxieosis in children may present with subtle symptoms (new onset of ADHD, drop in school grades) or overt neuropsychiatrie disorders (anxiety, mood, cognitive or psychotic disorders). However, the literature did not appear to have revealed previous reports of violent aggressiveness or firesetting in children. Our case suggests that thyrotoxieosis is able to induce or exacerbate behavioral deterioration, including marked aggressivity, in susceptible children. Clinicians should watch for thyrotoxieosis, which may occur without thyroid disease for a variety of reasons. Delayed treatment can result in enduring physical, cognitive, and emotional disturbances.

Iodine Metabolism and Thyroid-Related Functions in Organisms Lacking Thyroid Follicles: Are Thyroid Hormones also Vitamins?

“…The human thyroid system certainly responds to dietary TH. A striking example is the outbreak of thyrotoxicosis without true hyperthyroidism, which occurred in 1984 in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa (186), the consequences of which may still be felt (187). This outbreak was traced to ground beef contaminated with thyroid tissue.…”

Elevated aggressive behavior in male mice with thyroid-specific Prkar1a and global Epac1 gene deletion

“…In humans with hyperthyroidism, comorbidity with affective disorders, including anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often reported (Thomsen and Kessing, 2005; Grabe et al, 2005). Thyrotoxicosis induced by consumption of ground beef contaminated by bovine thyroid tissue induced aggression and fire-setting in a 4 year-old boy (Bhatara et al, 2009). Thyroid receptors are expressed throughout the adult brain, including regions involved in affective behavior such as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala (Lechan et al, 1993).…”

Resistance To Thyroid Hormone: Implications for Neurodevelopmental Research On the Effects of Thyroid Hormone Disruptors

“…In humans, the role of thyroid hormone in neurodevelopment has been demonstrated in subjects with various thyroid dysfunctions, including children with congenital (Rovet et al, 1993b) and acquired (Rovet et al, 1993a) hypothyroidism who were treated with thyroid hormone, as well as children (Bhatara et al, 1995) and adults with hyperthyroidism (Alvarez et al, 1983;Trzepacz et al, 1988) and resistance to thyroid hormone (Mixson et al, 1992;Hauser et al, 1993a,b;Brucker-Davis et al, 1995).…”