Thyroid hormone levels in children with heart disease at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Thyroid function among children with heart disease
was studied. The children were randomly selected
and included 35 children (11 cyanotic and 24
acyanotic) with Congenital Heart Disease (C.H.D.)
and 34 children with Rheumatic Heart Disease (R.H.D.).
Their heights, weights and thyroid hormone levels
were compared with those of 43 normal control children
matched for age and sex.
74% of boys and 87% girls with C. H. D. had heights
below control values. 68% of boys and 87% of girls
had weights below control values. Children with
cyanotic - C.H.D. had significantly reduced Triiodothyronine
(T3) and Thyroxine (T4). Their Thyroid
Stimulating Hormone (T.S.H.) was essentially normal.
There was a positive correlation between heights of
children with cyanotic-C.H.D. and their T3 and T4 level.
No such correlation was demonstrated between T3 and T4
levels and the weights of these children. Children
with acyanotic-C.H.D. had significantly reduced T4
levels while T3 and T.S.H. remained normal.
In children with R.R.D. 86% of the boys and 52%
of girls had heights below control values. 73%
of the boys and 52% of the girls had weights
below control values. Their thyroid hormones
were essentially normal. No positive correlation
between their heights, weights and their thyroid
hormone levels was observed.
These results suggest that altered thyroid hormone
levels may affect height more than weight. They
also suggest that T4 may be the earliest of the
thyroid hormones to be affected in the hormonal
changes that may take place in children with congenital
heart lesions.
More studies where other confounding factors in growth
retardation are controlled for to try and establish
a causal relationship between growth retardation in
children with C.H.D. and their thyroid hormone levels
were recommended.
Citation
Degree of Master of Medicine (paediatricsPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences
Description
A dissertation submitted in part fulfillment
for the Degree of Master of Medicine (paediatrics)
in the University of Nairobi