Natural History of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone in Children

Initially abnormal TSH levels tended to normalize within 5 years.

Few population-based data on thyroid function tests in children are available. Investigators in Israel determined the natural history of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) using data from a health insurance administrative database. Of 1 million enrolled children (age range, 6 months to 16 years), 121,000 (12%) with no history of thyroid disease underwent TSH testing in 2002. The reason for testing was not specified in most cases.

On initial testing, TSH levels were normal (0.35–5.50 mIU/L) in 96.5% of children, mildly elevated (>5.50–10 mIU/L) in 2.9%, highly elevated (>10 mIU/L) in 0.4%, and low (<0.35 mIU/L) in 0.2%. After initial testing, treatment was started for overt thyroid dysfunction in 1% of children; data for these children were ex…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)