Childhood and Congenital Hypothyroidism

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) can be defined as a lack of thyroid hormones present from birth which unless detected and treated early, is associated with irreversible neurological problems and poor growth.
Some infants may develop a lack of thyroid hormones after birth and this may represent primary hypothyroidism rather than congenital hypothyroidism. Children with primary hypothyroidism do not experience the irreversible neurological problems that are seen with untreated congenital hypothyroidism.

• In the United Kingdom 1 in 4,000 live births have CH.
• The incidence is twice as common in females.¹
• Areas with iodine deficiency associated with endemic cretinism are Bangladesh, China, Peru and Zaire. This has in part been counteracted by compulsory iodinisation of salt.
• Italian screening for CH suggests it is more prevalent in multiple pregnancies - the cause of which remains unclear.²

The underlying cause can be the result of:

Anatomical defects

• Accounts for 75% of all cases.
• There may be thyroid aplasia, hypoplasia or ectopic thyroid tissue.
• Not inherited so that chances of another sibling being affected are low.

Disorders of thyroid hormone metabolism

• This accounts for 10% of cases.³
• Examples include TSH unresponsiveness and defects in thyroglobulin.
• This is usually inherited and so there is a risk that further children may also be affected.

Hypothalamic or pituitary dysfunction

• Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction accounts for 5 % of cases of CH. Pituitary hypothyroidism usually occurs with other disorders of pituitary dysfunction e.g. lack of growth hormone.
• Hypothalamic causes include tumours, ischaemic damage or congenital defects.

Transient hypothyroidism

• This accounts for 10 % of cases and is usually related to either maternal medications e.g. carbimazole or to maternal antibodies. In maternal thyroid disease IgG auto-antibodies can cross the placenta and block thyroid function in utero; this improves after delivery.
• A number of genetic defects have been associated with CH. This includes mutations in the "paired box gene 8" (PAX8) and the "dual oxidase 2 gene" (DUOX2). The PAX8 gene is involved in the development of various tissues in the embryo. PAX8 is particularly linked to the formation of the kidney and thyroid gland. Several mutations of PAX8 are described with varying degrees of thyroid dysfunction.¹

The DUOX2 gene encodes an enzyme called dual oxidase 2 which generates hydrogen peroxide in the thyroid gland, GI tract and the lungs. Dual oxidase 2 is crucial to the production of thyroid hormones.¹

Infants are usually clinically normal at birth due to the presence of maternal thyroid hormones.

Symptoms

• Feeding difficulties
• Somnolence
• Lethargy
• Low frequency of crying
• Constipation

Signs

• Large fontanelles
• Myxoedema - with coarse features and a large head and oedema of the genitalia and extremities
• Nasal obstruction
• Macroglossia
• Low temperature (often <35°C) with cold and mottled skin on the extremities
• Jaundice - prolongation of the physiological jaundice
• Umbilical hernia
• Hypotonia
• Hoarse voice
• Cardiomegaly
• Bradycardia
• Pericardial effusion - usually asymptomatic
• Failure of fusion of distal femoral epiphyses
• Growing child will have short stature, hypertelorism, depressed bridge of nose, narrow palpebral fissures and swollen eyelids
• Refractory anaemia
• A goitre may be present (more likely with dyshormonogenesis, thyroid hormone resistance and transient hypothyroidism)

5% of patients will also have other congenital defects e.g. atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects.
Infants not treated early may have delayed mental development, learning difficulties and poor co-ordination.

• All babies are screened at birth (with mothers consent) using blood taken via a pin prick and analysed for TSH and T4. This is part of the UK Newborn Screening Programme (the blood is also analysed for phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease).^4,5
• A high TSH and low T4 confirm the diagnosis.
• Infants may need to go on to have thyroid ultrasound scanning and / or thyroid radionuclide scanning.
• Thyroid auto-antibodies are also measured.
• False positive results are usually due to intercurrent illness and thyroglobulin deficiency.⁶
• Thyroglobulin levels can also be measured - usually total T4 is low with a normal TSH, but free T4 and T3 are with in the normal range. This would require no further treatment.
• 20% of infants may only have a slight increase in TSH - these patients need to be observed and thyroid function tests repeated in a few months.

• The aim of treatment is early detection and early thyroid hormone replacement to ensure that infants do not develop irreversible neurological disability.
• Thyroxine hormone replacement with L-thyroxine is given once daily and titrated to thyroid function tests (TFTs).⁷ There is no evidence at present to suggest that higher starting doses of thyroxine have more beneficial effect on outcome compared with standard doses.⁸
• TFTs need to be monitored on a regular basis. The frequency of blood tests can be reduced after the first 2 years of life once adequate replacement is achieved.
• T4 should ideally be kept in the upper half of the normal range.
• Transient hypothyroidism need not be treated unless the low T4 and raised TSH persist beyond 2 weeks. Treatment is usually terminated after 3 to 5 months.⁹

• Regular monitoring of TFTs.
• Cross-sectional reference growth charts should be used to monitor child growth.
• Monitor achievement of childhood milestones.
• Monitor mental development - four areas need to be reviewed: communication and personality behaviour, language ability, motor ability and adaptive behaviour.⁹

The main adverse effects are related to the lack of adequate thyroid hormone replacement leading to hypothyroidism or excessive thyroid hormone replacement leading to hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism in infants is exhibited by tachycardia, anxiety and a disturbed sleep pattern.

If CH is detected early in infants and treatment begun, normal development of mental function can occur.¹⁰ If treatment is delayed spasticity, gait problems and dysarthria and profound mental disability may result.

Poor self-esteem and depression are amongst several factors that lead to a poorer quality of life in patients who have been treated for CH.¹¹ A high index of suspicion with careful questioning is required to pick up on these aspects.

• Commonest cause is lymphocytic thyroiditis. Other causes may be iatrogenic.
• Typically seen in adolescence, but can occur earlier.
• First signs are slowing of growth (often unrecognised) with other typical signs of hypothyroidism e.g. skin changes, cold intolerance, sleepiness and low energy.
• Typically delayed puberty in adolescence but younger children may have galactorrhoea or precocious puberty.

Lymphocytic thyroiditis

• Lymphocytic thyroiditis is also known as Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis.
• It is 4-7 times more common in girls than boys.
• Usually patients have an enlarged, non-tender thyroid (may appear nodular in around 1 in 3 cases).
• Many cases are asymptomatic and clinically euthyroid and many stay that way.
• 25% of other family members may be similarly affected.
• There is a high incidence in children with Turner's and Down's syndrome.

Other rarer causes include acute suppurative thyroiditis and sub-acute non-suppurative thyroiditis (de Quervain's disease).