Abstract
Introduction: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation. Newborn screening program considerably increases probability of CH diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of running CH screening program to maintain normal IQ and physical growth of hypothyroid children in Semnan city. Patients and Methods: This study was performed on children with definite CH who were treated and followed up in Semnan health centers. Around 41 children born within 2008-2013 (minimum three years of age) participated. Respective weight and height for age were measured. The Z-scores were calculated based on the WHO-Anthro-Anthro Plus Software. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was measured with Wechsler Intelligence Score for children-revised (WISC-R). Data analyzed with one-tailed t test compared with age and gender-matched group. Results: The mean IQ Score in our study group was 90.09 (1.73) with no significant difference compared to healthy counterparts (P > 0.05). Z-score for weight and height was -0.46 and -0.45 prospectively and was not significantly different from normal children. Conclusion: Newborn screening program for CH has been effective in preventing mental retardation and growth failure.
Highlights
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation
“Newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism” is an effective program in preventing mental retardation based on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score (WISC-R) and growth failure according to Z-score of anthropometric indexes in followed up children
We aimed to study the efficacy of running CH screening program to maintain normal IQ and physical growth CH live births in Semnan city
Summary
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of running CH screening program to maintain normal IQ and physical growth of hypothyroid children in Semnan city. Z-score for weight and height was -0.46 and -0.45 prospectively and was not significantly different from normal children. Conclusion: Newborn screening program for CH has been effective in preventing mental retardation and growth failure. The trend of the disease in a particular region varies with time [2,7,10] These differences might be explained by increased survival of preterm- very low birth weight infants [11], several screening guidelines and cut off point for definite diagnosis [12,13], dietary iodine deficiency [4,10,13]. Other possible mechanisms were transient hypothyroidism following overuse of iodide-containing solution [1,14], ethnic, racial, tribal differences in thyroid genesis and function [15,16,17]
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