Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2013) 32 P992 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.32.P992

ECE2013 Poster Presentations Thyroid (non-cancer) (100 abstracts)

Study on linear growth and thyroid function for 12 years in patients with β thalassemia major

Ashraf Soliman 1 , Fawzia Al Yafei 1 , Lolwa Al-Naimi 1 , Noora Almarri 1 , Aml Sabt 1 , Mohamed Yassun 1 & Vincenzo Desanctis 2


1Hamad Medical Center, Doha; Qatar, 2Quisisana Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.


Introduction: Short stature and hypothyroidism and are frequent complications of thalassemia major (TM).

Patients and methods: We recorder growth parameters and investigated the thyroid function in TM patients attending our Pediatric Endocrine Clinics for 12 years. Definitions: overt hypothyroidism (low FT4 and increased TSH levels >5 μIU/ml); subclinical hypothyroidism (normal FT4, TSH between 5–10 μIU/ml) and central (secondary) hypothyroidism (low FT4 and normal or decreased TSH).

Results: 48 patients completed a 12 years of follow-up. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 35% of patients without gender difference. There was a progressive decrease of height SDS (from −0.2±0.3 to −1.78±0.5) and BMI SDS (from 0.2±0.3 to −0.6±0.35). HtSDS was <−2 in 46% of patients. The general trend of free thyroxine level showed progressive decrease over the 12 years, whereas TSH levels did not show a corresponding increase. 94% patients had hypothyroidism after the age of 10 years. Overt hypothyroidism had risen from 0% at the age of 7 years to 35% at the age of 18 years. None had high anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO) antibody titers. 13/17 patients with hypothyroidism, had normal or low TSH level (not appropriately elevated) indicative of defective hypothalamic pituitary response to low FT4 (central hypothyroidism). 3/17 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH between 5 and 10 μIU/ml and normal FT4). There was a significant negative correlation between serum ferritin and FT4 (r=−0.39, P=0.007) and between FT$ and HTSDS (r=0.52, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Progressive height loss and worsening of thyroid function was observed in 46 and 35% respectively in thalassemic patients by the age of 18 years. The lack of proper increase of TSH in response to low levels of FT4 in (76%) of these patients indicated a high incidence of defective pituitary thyrotrophic function in these patients.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.