Thyroid function in Down syndrome

Thyroid function in pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

PURPOSE

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by chronic synovitis, sometimes associated with fever, rash, pericarditis and uveitis. Limited data are available concerning autoimmune diseases associated with JIA in childhood.

THE AIMS OF OUR STUDY WERE

(a) evaluating the thyroid function in a group of Italian children affected by JIA; (b) identifying which Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases (ATDs) are related to JIA in this population.

METHODS

A population of 51 patients with JIA was investigated. Each patient enrolled was evaluated clinically (family history for Autoimmune Diseases (ADs), personal history and physical examination). In the sample were evaluated thyroid function, inflammation's index and anti-thyroid antibodies.

RESULTS

The 68.6% (35) of our patients had the oligoarticular form, 27.5% (14) had the polyarticular one, 2% (1) had systemic onset and 2% (1) had undifferentiated arthritis. We focused our attention on the differences between the first two forms. We did not find any difference on the gender prevalence (p > 0.05). A higher presence of anti-TPO antibodies was found in the polyarticular form, with a significant difference with the oligoarticular one (p = 0.032). We researched the anti-hTG antibodies (p > 0.05) and ANA for each group (p > 0.05). We found a significant prevalence of family history for ADs in the polyarticular form (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings show the necessity to focus on thyroid function in patients with JIA. Although the oligoarticular form is the most frequent, the polyarticular form shows a higher frequency of thyroid function's alteration. This suggests the need for specific attention in polyarticular form.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 C1858T gene polymorphism in children with down syndrome and autoimmune thyroid diseases

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AIT) is a frequent comorbidity in Down Syndrome (DS). Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non- Receptor Type 22 C1858T (PTPN-22 C1858T) gene polymorphisms have a role in the progression of AIT. The study on PTPN- 22 C1858T gene polymorphism as the risk factor of AIT in DS children is still limited. This study aims to evaluate PTPN-22 C1858T polymorphism in Indonesian DS children. A cross-sectional study involving 31 DS children with hypothyroidism (19 boys/12 girls) was conducted for ten months from February to November 2020 at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya. The PTPN-22 C1858T gene polymorphism was analyzed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction-Fragment-Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase (Anti- TPO) and Anti-Thyroglobulin (Anti-TG), FT4, T3, and TSH levels were analyzed using Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent-Assay (ELISA). The mean age of the subjects was 19.45±17.3 months. The CT variant of PTPN-22 C1858T was observed in all subjects. The mean level of T3, FT4, and TSH were 1.59±0.45 ng/mL, 0.81±0.57 ng/mL, 0.22±0.21 μU/mL, respectively. Around 83.9% of patients suffered from central hypothyroidism, 12.9% from primary hypothyroidism, and 3.2% from subclinical hypothyroidism. The positive anti-TG and anti-TPO were observed in 96.8% and 58.1%, respectively. CT variant was observed in Indonesian DS children who suffered from hypothyroidism.

Thyroid abnormalities in children with Down syndrome at St. Paul's hospital millennium medical college, Ethiopia

Background

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is the commonest thyroid abnormality in patients with Down syndrome (DS). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of thyroid abnormalities, to assess the age at diagnosis, and to examine the screening practice in children with DS in a resource limited setting.

Methodology

A retrospective study was conducted in children with DS seen at endocrine follow‐up clinic. Data were collected from patients' registration book and medical records.

Result

A total of 115 patients with DS were included in the study out of which 64 (59.8%) were males. Their median age at diagnosis was 9 months (range 4–15 years). Thyroid function test (TFT) was done at least once for 107 (93%) patients. Abnormal thyroid function was observed in 51 (47.7%) patients. The commonest thyroid abnormality was SCH (30/107, 28%) followed by congenital hypothyroidism (11/107, 10.3%), overt hypothyroidism (9/107, 8.4%) and hyperthyroidism (1/107, 0.9%). Most of the patients (86/107, 80.4%) were tested initially in the first 2 years of life. From those who were tested between the age of 2–6 months (n = 22 patients), seven (31.8%) patients had thyroid abnormalities.

Conclusion

Thyroid abnormalities were seen in a remarkable proportion of DS patients. The detection of abnormalities in the patients with age range of 2–6 months demands the need for additional TFT in this age category apart from the standard recommendation. Early diagnosis and management of thyroid abnormalities are important to decrease further impairment of cognition function in children with DS.

Oral Function and Eating Habit Problems in People with Down Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder in which there is an increased risk of developing clinical comorbidities that require regular attention: health problems, alterations in maxillomandibular development, chewing and swallowing problems, as well as dietary habits that may influence diet and nutritional status. This study will analyze the frequency of occurrence of these factors with increasing age in this population.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 18 participants aged 30-45 years. The condition of orofacial structures, chewing and swallowing function and oral and eating habits were assessed to observe the frequency of occurrence of these problems with increasing age.

RESULTS

A high frequency of digestive problems was observed. There was also a presence of problems in the introduction of new tastes and consistencies. In addition, unilateral chewing was reported in 100% of the participants, severe anatomical dysfunction of the mandible/maxilla and high hypotonicity reflected in tongue movements.

CONCLUSIONS

it is necessary to educate, through specific intervention protocols, the younger generations with DS, as well as their environment, as harmful habits are developed in childhood and consolidated throughout life.

Down syndrome

Trisomy 21, the presence of a supernumerary chromosome 21, results in a collection of clinical features commonly known as Down syndrome (DS). DS is among the most genetically complex of the conditions that are compatible with human survival post-term, and the most frequent survivable autosomal aneuploidy. Mouse models of DS, involving trisomy of all or part of human chromosome 21 or orthologous mouse genomic regions, are providing valuable insights into the contribution of triplicated genes or groups of genes to the many clinical manifestations in DS. This endeavour is challenging, as there are >200 protein-coding genes on chromosome 21 and they can have direct and indirect effects on homeostasis in cells, tissues, organs and systems. Although this complexity poses formidable challenges to understanding the underlying molecular basis for each of the many clinical features of DS, it also provides opportunities for improving understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying the development and function of many cell types, tissues, organs and systems. Since the first description of trisomy 21, we have learned much about intellectual disability and genetic risk factors for congenital heart disease. The lower occurrence of solid tumours in individuals with DS supports the identification of chromosome 21 genes that protect against cancer when overexpressed. The universal occurrence of the histopathology of Alzheimer disease and the high prevalence of dementia in DS are providing insights into the pathology and treatment of Alzheimer disease. Clinical trials to ameliorate intellectual disability in DS signal a new era in which therapeutic interventions based on knowledge of the molecular pathophysiology of DS can now be explored; these efforts provide reasonable hope for the future.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Specific Genetic Syndromes in Childhood and Adolescence

Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is the most frequent cause of acquired thyroid dysfunction, most commonly presenting either as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' Disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is characterized by the presence of thyroid-specific autoantibodies, more commonly anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies in the serum and the typical inhomogeneous echostructure of the thyroid on a thyroid ultrasound examination. Hashimoto's thyroiditis can for a long time be accompanied by normal thyroid function and hypothyroidism can only progressively be established. Graves' disease is much less frequent in childhood and adolescence and presents with overt hyperthyroidism. After the onset of puberty, ATD affects females with a higher incidence than males, while during the prepubertal period there is not such a clear preponderance of affected females. ATD can occur either isolated or in the context of other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1D), celiac disease, alopecia areata, vitiligo, etc. Especially at the pediatric age, a higher incidence of ATD is also observed in the context of specific genetic syndromes, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, or 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Nevertheless, although thyroid dysfunction may also be observed in other genetic syndromes, such as Prader-Willi or Williams syndrome, the thyroid dysfunction in these syndromes is not the result of thyroid autoimmunity. Interestingly, there is emerging evidence supporting a possible link between autoimmunity and RASopathies. In this review article the incidence, as well as the clinical manifestation and accompanied pathologies of ATD in specific genetic syndromes will be presented and regular follow-up for the early identification of the disorder will be proposed.

Prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions in infants and children with Down Syndrome (DS) and the effect of thyroxine treatment on linear growth and weight gain in treated subjects versus DS subjects with normal thyroid function: a controlled study

Background: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at an increased risk of developing thyroid disease, primarily autoimmune, with a lifetime prevalence ranging from 13% to 63%. Unfortunately, there are few studies systematically examining the frequency of thyroid disease in very young children. Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of different thyroid dysfunctions (TD) in a cohort of infants and children with DS and the growth parameters in subjects with normal versus abnormal thyroid function, followed for 3 years. Patients and methods: All children (n = 102; 48 males and 54 females, aged 2.3±3 years) with the diagnosis of DS who were seen at the General Pediatric Clinic of Hamad General Hospital in Doha (Qatar) from 2014 to 2018 were enrolled in our study. We recorded thyroid function and linear growth parameters [BMI, length/height SDS (Ht-SDS) and weight gain/day] and divided them into 3 groups according to their thyroid function. Group 1: (n = 36 subjects) with normal free T4 (FT4) and TSH; Group 2 (n = 44 subjects) with high TSH >5 and <12 mIU/L, and normal FT4, and Group 3 (n = 22 subjects) with TSH >12 mIU/L and/or FT4 <9 pmol/L. We also compared linear growth parameters in subjects with DS and thyroid dysfunction versus those with normal thyroid function at diagnosis and after treatment with L- thyroxine, for an average of 3 years. Results: In infants with DS (<1 year of age; n = 47, mean age: 5±3.5 months) we documented a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism (HT) (7/47 = 14.9%), both primary (5/47; 10.6%) and secondary (2/47; 4.3%). Subclinical hypothyroidism and positive thyroid antibodies were found in (13/47; 27.7%) and (9/47;19%, respectively). Before treatment with L-thyroxine, DS infants of Group 3 had significantly lower BMI-SDS but were not significantly shorter compared to other two Groups (p= 0.03 and p =0.14, respectively). After an average of 3 years of treatment the BMI- SDS and Ht-SDS did not differ among the treated and not treated infant groups. In the older group (>1 year; n=55; mean age: 5.5±3.3 years) primary HT was detected in 7/55 (12.7%). Subclinical HT was diagnosed in 20/55 (36.4%) and positive thyroid antibodies were found in 26/55 (47.3%). Before treatment with L-thyroxine, using the CDC growth charts for DS, we found that the groups with high TSH (Groups 2 and 3) were significantly shorter and heavier compared to the group with normal TSH (Group 1). After treatment with L-thyroxine, the Ht-SDS and Wt-SDS did not differ between the two groups. The linear growth of those diagnosed early during the first year of life was compared to growth parameters of children who were diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction later in life. Conclusion: Our data provided more evidence to support the findings that L- thyroxine treatment can improve growth of infants and young DS children with high TSH (>5 mIU/L), especially in those with TSH >12 mIU/L. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of autoimmune thyroid diseases in children with Down's syndrome

Aim of this commentary is to report the main peculiarities that have been found to characterize the phenotypic expression of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) in children with Down's syndrome (DS). According to recent reports, DS children are, per se, more exposed to the risk of both Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD), irrespective of other concomitant risk factors, such as female gender and family antecedents for AITDs. In the context of extra-thyroidal autoimmune disorders, the ones that preferentially aggregate with AITDs in DS children are alopecia areata and vitiligo. Another peculiar aspect, in DS children, is that HT presents with a more severe biochemical picture, which furtherly deteriorates over time. By contrast, GD does not demonstrate a more severe clinical and biochemical picture with respect to that generally observed in patients without DS. Finally, DS children might be at higher risk of progressing from HT toward GD over time.

In children with autoimmune thyroid diseases the association with Down syndrome can modify the clustering of extra-thyroidal autoimmune disorders

BACKGROUND

It is known that the association with Down syndrome (DS) can affect the phenotypic expression of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), whilst is unknown whether the clustering of extra-thyroidal autoimmune diseases (ETADs) may also be atypical in DS children.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate the clustering of ETADs in 832 children with AITDs divided in two groups with or without DS (A and B, respectively) and in four subgroups of patients aged either <6 or ≥6 years.

RESULTS

The rate of children with ETADs was significantly higher in Group A; in particular, alopecia areata (p=0.00001) and vitiligo (p=0.00001) were found more often in Group A irrespective of age, whilst the distribution of T1 diabetes mellitus was not different in the two groups. Celiac disease prevalence was significantly higher in DS patients only in the older subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

The association with DS may be able to modify the clustering of ETADs in the children with AITDs by favoring the aggregation of some specific diseases such as alopecia areata and vitiligo.