Children with hyperthyroidism younger than age 7 require higher mg/kg doses of methimazole to normalize free T4 compared to older children
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Diana Stafford
Abstract
Background: Hyperthyroidism is much less common in children <7 years vs. older children and less well studied. It was our impression that the youngest patients needed a higher weight-based dose of methimazole (MMI) to achieve euthyroidism.
Objectives: To compare the mean MMI dose needed to normalize free T4 in younger (<7 years) vs. older children and the time taken to normalize free T4.
Methods: Based on chart review (2004–2012), patients were divided into groups based on age at diagnosis: <7 years (n=13), 7–12 years (n=30) and >12 years (n=40). Follow-up visits were reviewed until free T4 normalized.
Results: The mean dose of MMI (mg/kg/day) needed to normalize free T4 was 0.71 (±0.29) in the <7 group, significantly higher vs. the two older groups: 0.50 (±0.22) and 0.44 (±0.24). Months taken to achieve a euthyroid state was significantly longer in children <7 (6.23±3.91) vs. the older groups (3.10±2.12 and 3.18±2.86 months).
Conclusion: Hyperthyroid children diagnosed before age 7 required higher initial doses of MMI and took a longer time to become euthyroid than older patients. Clinicians should consider starting with higher weight-based MMI doses when treating younger patients to more rapidly normalize free T4.
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©2015 by De Gruyter
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Highlight: Turner syndrome
- Turner syndrome – working together with patients and their families
- Turner syndrome patients with bicuspid aortic valves and renal malformations exhibit abnormal expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)
- Inhibin B in adolescents and young adults with Turner syndrome
- Mode of initial presentation and chromosomal abnormalities in Irish patients with Turner syndrome: a single-centre experience
- Retrospective evaluation of pubertal development and linear growth of girls with Turner Syndrome treated with oral and transdermal estrogen
- Turner syndrome in Albania and the efficacy of its treatment with growth hormone
- Review articles
- The relation of vitamin D status with metabolic syndrome in childhood and adolescence: an update
- Putting the pieces together: cryptorchidism – do we know everything?
- Original articles
- Investigation of androgen receptor gene mutations in a series of 21 patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development
- Molecular diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) in Turkish children by using targeted next-generation sequencing
- Association of physical activity level with depression, anxiety, and quality of life in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Neonatal diabetes in Ukraine: incidence, genetics, clinical phenotype and treatment
- The effect of intraoperative administration of dexamethasone for PONV prophylaxis on perioperative blood glucose level in obese and normal weight children
- Are obesity and metabolic syndrome associated with plasma adropin levels in children?
- Carnitine insufficiency in children with inborn errors of metabolism: prevalence and treatment efficacy
- Comparison of energy expenditure, body composition, metabolic disorders, and energy intake between obese children with a history of craniopharyngioma and children with multifactorial obesity
- Effect of serum cholesterol on bone mineral density in normal-weight children and adolescents
- Assessment of bone turnover markers and bone mineral density in normal short boys
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- Effects of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis in children with cerebral palsy: a meta-analysis
- AMH levels at central precocious puberty and premature thelarche: is it a parameter?
- Validating Paediatric Morphometrics: body proportion measurement using photogrammetric anthropometry
- Treatment of central precocious puberty and early puberty with GnRH analog in girls with Williams-Beuren syndrome
- Short communication
- Pilot study on the dietary habits and lifestyles of girls with idiopathic precocious puberty from the city of Rome: potential impact of exposure to flame retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers
- Patient reports
- Hypomagnesemia due to two novel TRPM6 mutations
- A novel mutation of AMH in three siblings with persistent Mullerian duct syndrome
- Kocher-Debré-Semelaigne syndrome with rhabdomyolysis and increased creatinine
- Anaphylaxis to gonadorelin acetate in a girl with central precocious puberty
- Efficacy and safety of sirolimus in a neonate with persistent hypoglycaemia following near-total pancreatectomy for hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia
