Effects of early treatment on physical and intelligence development in children with congenital hypothyroidism

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in the intelligence and physical developmental levels of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) who received initial treatment at different times. METHODS: Forty-nine children with CH diagnosed by neonatal screening between September 2008 and September 2011 were enrolled in this study. According to the timing of initial treatment with thyroid hormone, they were classified into two groups: 0.05) at 6 months old, 1 year and 2 years old. However, heights and weights in the 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The timing of initial treatment with thyroid hormone appears to be associated with the intelligence and physical development in children with CH. Treatment starting at less than 1 month of life contributes to improved physical and intelligence development compared with treatment starting at 1 to 3 months of life.