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. 2017 Jun;22(2):102-107.
doi: 10.6065/apem.2017.22.2.102. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

Intellectual development in preschool children with early treated congenital hypothyroidism

Min Kyoung Seo  1 , Jong Seo Yoon  1 , Chul Hwan So  2 , Hae Sang Lee  1 , Jin Soon Hwang  1
Affiliations

Intellectual development in preschool children with early treated congenital hypothyroidism

Min Kyoung Seo et al. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Delayed treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common cause of mental retardation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intellectual outcomes in preschool children with treated CH.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 43 children (age range: 13 to 60 days of life; 22 girls and 21 boys) diagnosed with CH. Children aged 5 to 7 years were examined using the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or the Korean Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence.

Results: The patients started treatment between 13 and 60 days of age. The mean intelligence quotient (IQ) of patients tested at age 5 to 7 years was 103.14±11.68 (IQ range: 76-126). None had intellectual disability (defined as an IQ <70). Twenty-one subjects were treated with a low dose (6.0-9.9 µg/kg/day) and 22 with a high dose of levothyroxine (10.0-16.0 µg/kg/day). There was no significant difference in the mean full-scale IQ (FSIQ), verbal IQ (VIQ), and performance IQ (PIQ) scores between the 2 groups. FSIQ, PIQ, and VIQ scores were not significantly correlated with initial dose of L-T4, initial fT4, age at treatment in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: IQ scores of subjects with early treated CH diagnosed through a neonatal screening test were within normal range, regardless of etiology, thyroid function, initial dose of levothyroxine, and age at start of treatment.

Keywords: Congenital; Hypothyroidism; Intellectual disability; Synthyroid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flow diagram of subjects who were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. IQ, intelligence quotient.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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