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    Heterogeneous phenotype in children affected by non-autoimmune hypothyroidism: an update.

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    BACKGROUND: In the last decades, a higher incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has been recorded in Italy (1:1940) and worldwide, mainly due to the shift to lower screening TSH cutoffs. Although CH can also be caused by dysgenetic defects, most CH cases have recently been found to be more frequently associated with functional defects of an in situ thyroid gland. Although the clinical phenotype is milder with high prevalence of transient forms, some cases eventually prove to be permanent. RESULTS: Possible explanations of the raised incidence of CH are ethnic modifications of the screened population and the increasing incidence of preterm birth and multiple pregnancies. These findings are important in terms of public health and standardization of screening programmes for special at-risk categories such as preterms, acutely ill term neonates, low birth weight and very low birth weight infants, and newborns with specific drug exposure. Other environmental factors have contributed to the increased incidence of hypothyroidism, including thyroid disrupting chemicals, iodine supply (excess/deficiency), and drugs interfering with thyroid function. Finally, an increased prevalence of hypothyroidism has been documented in obese children and patients with syndromic forms (Williams, Down, Turner, pseudohypoparathyroidism). The clinical and molecular phenotype of patients with CH will be better defined thanks to novel genetic approach based on the systematic analysis of a panel of genes (TSHR, DUOX2, DUOXA, TPO, PDS, TG, NKX2.1, JAG1, GLIS3, FOXE1, PAX-8). CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes significant advances in the epidemiology and aetiology of non-autoimmune hypothyroidism, with a focus on thyroid dysfunction in preterm infants

    Thyroid function and puberty

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    Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth, sexual development and reproductive function. During puberty, changes in thyroid functions and an increase in thyroid volume occur as an adaptation to body and sexual development. Hypothyroidism diagnosed late in prepubertal years, usually due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, can cause a delay of puberty or incomplete isosexual precocity (development of breast and internal genitalia in girls and increased testis volume in boys without adrenarche). In contrast, normal pubertal development and adequate menarche have been documented in congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening and treated early. The effect of hyperthyroidism on pubertal development is not well known, but a short period of hyperthyroidism seems not to have major negative effects. In adolescence or young adulthood, menstrual dysfunction, infertility, and stillbirth or premature birth are associated with thyroid dysfunctio

    Evolution of thyroid function in preterm infants detected by screening for congenital hypothyroidism.

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    OBJECTIVE: To determine the evolution of congenital hypothyroidism in preterms and the clinical features of permanent forms. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively evaluated 24 preterm children detected by newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism: first screening with blood-thyroid stimulating hormone cutoff ≥10 mU/L and second screening with blood-thyroid stimulating hormone cutoff ≥5 mU/L. After the age of 2 years, patients with eutopic thyroid had diagnostic reevaluations, including thyroid function testing and thyroid ultrasonography after L-thyroxine therapy withdrawal. RESULTS: The first screening identified 21.7% of patients with thyroid stimulating hormone elevation, and the second screening identified 73.9% of patients. One patient (4.4%) was identified with a third screening test; 21 patients had an eutopic thyroid and 3 patients a thyroid dysgenesis. At reevaluation, 5 patients (23.8%) showed permanent hypothyroidism (serum-thyroid stimulating hormone [s-TSH] >10 mU/L) resulting in the need to reintroduce therapy, 5 patients (23.8%) showed persistent hyperthyrotropinemia (s-TSH 5-10 mU/L), and 11 infants (52.4%) transient hypothyroidism (s-TSH <5 mU/L). The main clinical features of patients affected by permanent hypothyroidism were 1 case of assisted reproduction, 2 twins, 2 small for gestational age, 1 maternal thyroiditis, and 2 patients with malformations/syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: Premature birth is a significant risk for congenital hypothyroidism with eutopic thyroid. In preterm infants, the evolution of congenital hypothyroidism remains difficult to predict. Our data emphasizes the high incidence of transient hypothyroidism in preterm infants, and the importance of diagnostic reevaluation to determine the definitive diagnosis
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