Effect of thyroid replacement therapy on the stature of Colombian children with minimal thyroid dysfunction

Abstract

The effect of thyroid replacement therapy (TRT) was evaluated in 372 children with minimal thyroid dysfunction (MTD; augmented TSH response to TRH, deficient iodine consumption, goiter, short stature and retarded bone age), by comparison of pre- with post-observation height in periods of 6 months with and without TRT alternated. A significant (P < 0.05) height recovery was observed when children received TRT; however, during the period without TRT they showed a negative height recovery. Additionally, we followed 51 children with MTD who were observed from Tanner I until final height. The group with L-thyroxine (n = 43) during all follow-up (97 months) showed an important recovery in height (SDS-H = 1.67 +/- 0.93 vs. 1.08 +/- 0.74) which when compared with the untreated group (n = 8; 114 months; SDS-H = -1.50 +/- 0.83 vs. -1.93 +/- 0.33) was significant (P < 0.001).

Treatment of Iodine Deficiency in School-Age Children Increases Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-I and IGF Binding Protein-3 Concentrations and Improves Somatic Growth

“…Thyroid hormone also directly affects epiphyseal growth, bone maturation, and stature (40,43). Hypothyroidism is a well-recognized cause of short stature in children, and in hypothyroid Colombian children with minimal thyroid dysfunction, T 4 administration increased growth (17). In the present study, in the children who were moderate to severely iodine deficient, iodine repletion increased mean TT4 concentrations by 40 -50% and somatic growth improved.…”

“…Administration of T 4 to hypothyroid children increases their growth (17). Thyroid hormone promotes GH secretion and modulates the effects of GH at its receptor (18 -20).…”

Iodine Deficiency

“…Administration of T 4 to hypothyroid children increases their growth (172). Thyroid hormone promotes GH secretion and modulates the effects of GH at its receptor (173)(174)(175).…”

Iodine Deficiency and Human Development

“…БСИРФ 3 способен как усиливать, так и ослаблять эффекты ИРФ 1, а его влияние может быть как ИРФ зависимым, так и ИРФ независимым [97]. Было выявлено, что на фоне гипотиреоза уровни сывороточных ИРФ 1 и БСИРФ 3 снижаются, а заместительная терапия тироксином сопровождается восстановлением их концентраций [98,99] и ускорением роста [94]. У де тей с отставанием в физическом развитии и йодным дефицитом в Малайзии была определена положи тельная корреляция между уровнем Т 4 и концентра циями ИРФ 1 и БСИРФ 3 [100].…”