ESPE Abstracts

Aim: Thyroid hormones are necessary for neurological and psychological well-being in addition to normal growth and development in children and adolescents. Hashimoto thyroiditis is the most common cause of goiter and acquired hypothyroidism and Graves’ disease is the main cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents. These two diseases are evaluated in the group of autoimmune thyroid diseases and will be evaluated because of their frequent occurrence in childhood and puberty.

Method: A hundred and fourty two patients aged between 1 and 18 years with autoimmune thyroid disease were studied. The age of onset, application complaints, hypothyroidism, euthyroidism or hyperthyroidism, goitre stages, physical examination findings, family history, accompanying diseases, thyroid function tests, autoantibodies recorded. Clinical, laboratory, ultrasonographic evaluation was performed at the time of admission and after the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease. The time of application and follow-up findings were compared between themselves.

Results: Twenty-seven (19%) of the patients were female and 115 (81%) were female. Median age was found at 14. 00. Of the patients, 130 (91. 5%) were over 10 years old and 106 (74. 6%) were girls. 129 (91%) of the patients were pubertal and 105 (74%) of them were girls. 103 (73%) of the patients were hypothyroid, 26 (18%) were hyperthyroid and 13 (9%) were euthyroid. When the goiter status was examined 101 (71%) patients were found to be stage 0. 122 patients (86%) with Hashimoto and 20 patients (14%) with Graves’ diagnosis were the most common complaints of autoimmune thyroid disease were malaise (26%). There was a significant correlation between positivity of levothyroxine and sT4 values in male and female patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (r=. 01, r=. 24, P <0. 0). There was no significant relationship between anti-TMAB and anti-Tg levels in male and female patients (P>0.05). When female patients diagnosed with Graves’ disease were examined, there was a significant positive correlation between Metimazol and duration of PTU acquisition and TSH level (rbayan_TSH =. 0.48; P<0. 01). No significant correlation was found between anti-TSHR level of Metimazol and PTU in male and female patients (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Clinical and laboratory findings may vary during diagnosis and follow-up in children and adolescents with autoimmune thyroid disease. Close monitoring of events is important. We think that these findings will be helpful for the general features, treatment and follow-up of autoimmune thyroid diseases.