ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common thyroid disorder in the pediatric population.

Objective and Hypotheses: The aim of the present study was to observe clinical manifestations, clinical course and long term outcomes of HT in children and adolescents.

Method: A total of 110 children and adolescents who presented to our center from 2008–2015, were evaluated retrospectively. Age and gender of the patients, as well as their complaints at the time of presentation, family history of thyroid disease, concomitant autoimmune diseases, TSH and fT4 levels and ultrasonography findings were reported.

Results: Of the 110 patients included in the study, 70.9% were female and 29.1% were male (ratio 2.4/1). The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 10.2 y±2.6 y. (range 3.3–14.6 y). The most common complaint at presentation was goiter (43.5%), followed by incidental finding (27%) more often due to positive family history, growth retardation (10%), fatigue (7%), gain weight (6%), irregular menstrual cycle (4%), increased appetite (1%) and anaemia (0.5%). Thyroid function impairment and/or goiter were present in the family of 40% of patients. Autoimmune diseases co-existed in 9% (6 subjects diabetes mellitus type 1, 2 celiac disease and 2 alopecia). The prevalence of goiter is statistically significant higher in females. At presentation, the laboratory findings of thyroid function are demonstrated at the table 1. During the follow-up 18% of the euthyroid patients presented subclinical hypothyroidism and were treated. The use of levothyroxine significally decreases the goiter in HT patients.

Conclusion: HT is more common in female and the complaint strongest referred is goiter. A positive family history of autoimmune thyroid disease consists a risk factor for hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism and is associated with higher prevalence of HT.