Growth pattern of childhood thyrotoxicosis: longitudinal follow-up to final height.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the growth pattern of children affected with thyrotoxicosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study of growth data of 40 patients with thyrotoxicosis diagnosed at prepuberty or at early puberty was conducted. All patients were evaluated for height and weight every 3-6 months. Height and weight were transformed to standard deviation score (SDS) to account for differences of age and sex. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, the patients were slightly underweight for height (weight SDS -0.27 +/- 1.24, height SDS -0.06 +/- 1.26). After 1 year of treatment, the average weight gain of the patients was 4.9 +/- 3.1 kg, resulting in becoming relatively overweight for height (weight SDS +0. 32 +/- 1.42, height SDS +0.02 +/- 1.32). At the time of reaching their final height, the patients had an appropriate weight for height (weight SDS +0.06 +/- 0.21, height SDS -0.04 +/- 1.01). The average final height SDS of the patients was -0.04 +/- 1.01. This was at the average of the general population, but was +0.57 +/- 0.48 SDS or +2.85 +/- 1.0 cm greater than their target height (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Growth of patients with thyrotoxicosis showed the same pattern as in the general population. The final height of thyrotoxicosis patients was averagely +0.57 SDS or +2.85 cm greater than their genetic potential. This could be from the result of secular trend in the general population rather than being the effect of thyrotoxicosis.