c/ Comte Borrell, 201-203, entresuelo - 08029 Barcelona - Spain
Email - Telf. (93) 215 74 23 - Fax (93) 215 76 99

Mar. 09: Hyperthyroidism in Down síndrome

Cristina Claret-Torrents 1, Albert Goday-Arno 1,2,3, Mariaina Cerdà-Esteve,
Juana Flores-Le Roux1, Juan José Chillarón-Jordan1, Juan Francisco
Cano-Pérez 1,3

Correspondence: agoday@imas.imim.es

Abstract

Thyroid conditions, particularly hypothyroidism, are common in people with Down syndrome (DS). Hyperthyroidism is also found at a higher-than-average rate in patients
with DS, although only isolated case reports and short series had been published up until now. We recently published the longest series so far examining the relationship between hyperthyroidism and DS. A systematic review of the 1,856 patients seen at Fundació Catalana
Síndrome de Down (FCSD) from 1991 to 2006 was undertaken, and 12 cases of hyperthyroidism were diagnosed. The etiological cause was found to be Graves disease
in all cases. After initial treatment with antithyroid drugs, all patients required definitive treatment with radioactive iodine I-131. Annual biochemical screening for early
diagnosis is less effective than it is for hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism may influence growth and development in children with DS; treatment can reverse its impact.

Keywords Hyperthyroidism. Down syndrome. Graves disease. Thyroid gland. Growth.

Labels: