ESPE Abstracts

Background and aims: To investigate the functional status of the thyroid gland in children with diabetes mellitus type 1.

Materials and methods: In the study were included 29 (13 boys, mean age 11.3±2.7 years) patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 from iodine deficient region. The examination included thyroid ultrasound and assessment of the functional state of the thyroid system: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), fT₄, fT₃, thyroid antibodies (TPO-Ab). Reference values of TSH were detected as 0.4–4.0 mkEd/ml, fT₄ 9–20 pmol/l, and fT₃ 4.4–9.3 pmol/l.

Results: There were 20 (68.9%) patients with normal thyroid function. The 9 (31.1%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. There were not found differences in the age, sex and duration of the diabetes mellitus between group with subclinical hypothyroidism and normal thyroid function. The goitre was identified in 18 (62.1%) patients. Among children with subclinical hypothyroidism goitre was determined more often than in the group with normal thyroid function (100% vs 45%, P=0,005). The thyroid antibodies were identified in 7 (24.1%) children. In the group with subclinical hypothyroidism autoimmune thyroiditis took place in 3 (33.3%) patients but in the group normal thyroid function in 4 (20.0%, P=0.620).

Conclusion: The results of the study have shown that every third children with diabetes mellitus type 1 from iodine deficient region had subclinical hypothyroidism. The goitre was identified in about 60% children and occurred twice as often in children with subclinical hypothyroidism. The autoimmune thyroiditis took place in about 25% children.