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Research Article: Value of thyroid volume as a complementary indicator for initial levothyroxine dosing in congenital hypothyroidism: a retrospective cohort study

Date Published: 2026-07-10

Abstract:
This study aimed to generate hypotheses on the effectiveness and safety of pre-treatment thyroid volume as an adjunctive parameter for guiding initial levothyroxine (L-T4) dosing in children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). This retrospective study included children diagnosed with CH at Huizhou First Maternal and Child Health Hospital (2021–2023). Based on first follow-up ultrasound thyroid volume, patients were divided into reduced (A, n =?6), normal (B, n =?48), and enlarged (C, n =?19) groups. Initial L-T4 doses were 11–13??g/kg/d (A), 6–9 (B), and 9–11 (C). Outcomes included time to thyroid function normalization, L-T4 dose requirements, physical growth, and Gesell Developmental Quotient (DQ) up to 24 months of age. At screening and before treatment, both Group A and Group C had significantly higher TSH levels and lower FT4 levels than Group B (all P <?0.001). In Group C, thyroid volume showed a significant positive correlation with pre-treatment TSH ( r =?0.705, P <?0.001) and a non-significant negative correlation with FT4 ( r =??0.440, P =?0.060). The median time to TSH normalization was 28 days (IQR 28–29.75) in Group A, 14 days (IQR 14–14) in Group B, and 14 days (IQR 14–28) in Group C; FT4 normalization was achieved at 14 days in all groups. Although there were significant differences in L-T4 dose requirements among the three groups (Group A?>?Group C?>?Group B), no significant differences in body weight, length/height, or DQ were observed between any CH group and the healthy control group within 24 months of age ( P >?0.05). These findings suggest that children with CH and abnormal thyroid volume may require higher initial L-T4 doses and a longer time to TSH normalization. Based on these observations, we propose the following hypothesis: thyroid volume, as an adjunct to thyroid function tests in guiding initial dosing regimens, holds certain research value in clinical practice. Future prospective, multicenter, and large-sample studies are required to validate this hypothesis.

Introduction:
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in childhood, with a global incidence of approximately 1:2,000 to 1:3,000. The condition is primarily caused by thyroid dysgenesis (including ectopy, hypoplasia, or agenesis) or dyshormonogenesis ( 1 ). Thyroid hormones are essential for early brain development and physical growth; delayed treatment can lead to irreversible intellectual impairment. Currently, the diagnosis of CH relies mainly on serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone…

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