Effect of Prolonged Discontinuation of L-Thyroxine Replacement in a Child with Congenital Hypothyroidism

Abstract

When diagnosed through neonatal screening and treated promptly and adequately, infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) experience normal physical growth and neurological development. Here we present a 3-year-old boy diagnosed with CH as a newborn, who was subsequently left untreated and experienced significant growth failure and developmental delay. This case emphasizes the importance of a consistent adherence to treatment in preventing such complications, especially in infancy and early childhood.

Socioeconomic Determinants Affecting Compliance to therapy in Patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism in Sharkia Governorate

“…(9) Poor medication compliance has a substantial impact on disease progression, disease complications, functional outcomes, and quality of life leading to significant growth failure and psychomotor delay during childhood and a possible cause of permanent neurological deficits. (10,11) Poor compliance to treatment was multifaceted and complex including; Patient-centered factors (such as age, gender, education, and forgetfulness, socioeconomic), therapy-related factors (such as treatment complexity and side effects) and healthcare system factors. (12) The study aimed to assess the compliance of the patients and/ or their target families to L thyroxin therapy, and to explore the socioeconomic factors affecting compliance to medication in patients with CH.…”

Congenital Hypothyroidism: Effects on Linear Growth, Catch- Up Growth, GH-IGF-I Axis and Bones

“…Forty years after the worldwide introduction of neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism, it is beyond doubt that early diagnosis and thyroxine treatment prevent brain damage. Although benefits of early treatment have never been proven in randomized placebocontrolled trials, studies that described the natural course of congenital hypothyroidism are considered sufficient evidence for its efficacy, at least in severe forms [73,[111][112][113][114]. After the introduction of the screening, several studies have reported a normal linear growth in infancy and childhood [115][116][117], while others have described a slight growth deceleration early in childhood in children with severe CH at diagnosis [118][119][120].…”