Study of clinical and biochemical profile of subclinical hypothyroidism in children aged 2-12 years

Abstract

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism is quite a common clinical condition in pediatric population. Objective of this study was to understand the clinical and biochemical profile of Subclinical hypothyroidism in children attending endocrinology OPD at a tertiary care center in southern India. Methods: In this study 62 children diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. Clinical assessment and laboratorial evaluation was carried out in a systematic way. Symptomatology, anthropometry, measurement of vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, tests for anti-thyroid antibody, lipid profile, estimation of bone age, USG neck, assessment of left ventricular function using M-mode echo were carried out at the time of diagnosis . Results: Subclinical hypothyroidism is more common in female children, principle symptoms were neck swelling and weight gain, goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis is more common in female, significant number of children had positive anti-thyroid antibodies, mean TSH value of patients with positive anti-thyroid antibody was high, there was no delay in bone maturation in majority of children, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were high, these children had abnormal lipid profile, heart rate and left ventricular function were normal. Conclusions: Subclinical hypothyroid children have higher risk of hypertension and pro-atherogenic lipid abnormalities. As there is a risk of progression to overt hypothyroidism these children needs regular follow up.