ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Thyroid hormone is essential for normal growth and development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting final adult height in patients with congenital hypothyroidism. METHODS: The study group was comprised of 42 patients who were diagnosed as congenital hypothyroidism and attained final adult height. Retrospectively, we reviewed medical records as to clinical and laboratory data. We analyzed the influence of various factors on final adult height(FAH) in patients with congenital hypothyroidism. RESULTS: The mean chronologic age at initiation of treatment was 5.85+/-4.32 years and the FAH deviation score(SDS) was -1.21+/-1.14. The age at initiation of treatment, the chronologic age, the mean dose of L-thyroxine of current treatment, and the bone age delay at initiation of treatment were negatively related to the FAH SDS(P<0.05). The height SDS at initiation of treatment and the height SDS at initiation of puberty were positively related to the FAH SDS(P<0.05). Analyzing according to etiology, the FAH SDS of dyshormonogenesis, thyroid aplasia, thyroid ectopia, and thyroid hypoplasia were 0.16+/-0.27, -1.15+/-0.97, -1.45+/-1.07, and -2.70+/-1.70 respectively(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The younger the age at initiation of treatment and the chronologic age, and the more the mean dose of L-thyroxine of current treatment and the bone age delay at initiation of treatment, The higher the final adult height SDS. The higher the height SDS at initiation of treatment and the height SDS at initiation of puberty, the final adult height SDS were the higher.