ESPE Abstracts

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has a high incidence, with a local increase in our screening relieves in the last years.

Objective and hypotheses: An accurate follow up and an appropriate treatment guarantee an adequate neurological and auxological development.

Method: We describe the personal report of 74 children (27 males and 43 females) with CH, diagnosed by neonatal screening and followed for 8.5±5.3 years.

Results: Their TSH, fT₃, fT₄ levels were in the range of normality, except in two adolescents with transient TSH increase. During the follow up a program of education to physical activity and/or sport, correlated to age of the children and adequate to their familial possibilities, was promoved. The SDS of stature ranged between −0.45±1.13 and −0.35±1.07; SDS of weight ranged between −0.43±1.34 and −0.17±1.32; the SDS of BMI ranged between −0.12±1.38 and −0.05±1.35. All the patients showed an adequate statural and ponderal growth; every patient was in the normal range for SDS BMI, even during adolescence.

Conclusion: Our patients did not present an early adiposity rebound, whereas reported in other studies. Our data confirm the utility of a programmed follow up in children and especially in adolescents with CH, with the finality of the maintenance of an adequate surveillance on growth and BMI. The education to the utility of physical activity can contribute to prevent a precocious adiposity rebound and to maintain a regular growth and weight.