Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a biologicbasis, but the precise cause is unknown. It is one of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities frequently observed in children with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH), suggesting that thyroid abnormalities may be related to ADHD. We report a prospective screening study for thyroid abnormalities in 277 children with ADHD by measurement of serum levels of total thyroxine, free thyroxine index, and thyrotropin. Fourteen children with ADHD had thyroid function test abnormalities: six had a normal free thyroxine index and elevated thyroxine level (group 1); three had a high free thyroxine index and a normal thyrotropin level (group 2); and five had a low free thyroxine index with a normal thyrotropin level (group 3). GRTH could not be demonstrated in a detailed study of four of the subjects in whom it was suspected (groups 1 and 2). Although the prevalence of ADHD in subjects with GRTH has been reported to be 46%, the overall prevalence of GRTH must be less than 1:2500 because we failed to detect GRTH in the 277 children with ADHD studied. We conclude that the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities is higher (5.4%) in children with ADHD than in the normal population (<1%).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 539-545 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | The Journal of pediatrics |
| Volume | 123 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1993 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and thyroid function. / Weiss, Roy E; Stein, Mark A.; Trommer, Barbara; Refetoff, Samuel.
In: The Journal of pediatrics, Vol. 123, No. 4, 1993, p. 539-545.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and thyroid function
AU - Weiss, Roy E
AU - Stein, Mark A.
AU - Trommer, Barbara
AU - Refetoff, Samuel
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a biologicbasis, but the precise cause is unknown. It is one of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities frequently observed in children with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH), suggesting that thyroid abnormalities may be related to ADHD. We report a prospective screening study for thyroid abnormalities in 277 children with ADHD by measurement of serum levels of total thyroxine, free thyroxine index, and thyrotropin. Fourteen children with ADHD had thyroid function test abnormalities: six had a normal free thyroxine index and elevated thyroxine level (group 1); three had a high free thyroxine index and a normal thyrotropin level (group 2); and five had a low free thyroxine index with a normal thyrotropin level (group 3). GRTH could not be demonstrated in a detailed study of four of the subjects in whom it was suspected (groups 1 and 2). Although the prevalence of ADHD in subjects with GRTH has been reported to be 46%, the overall prevalence of GRTH must be less than 1:2500 because we failed to detect GRTH in the 277 children with ADHD studied. We conclude that the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities is higher (5.4%) in children with ADHD than in the normal population (<1%).
AB - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a biologicbasis, but the precise cause is unknown. It is one of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities frequently observed in children with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH), suggesting that thyroid abnormalities may be related to ADHD. We report a prospective screening study for thyroid abnormalities in 277 children with ADHD by measurement of serum levels of total thyroxine, free thyroxine index, and thyrotropin. Fourteen children with ADHD had thyroid function test abnormalities: six had a normal free thyroxine index and elevated thyroxine level (group 1); three had a high free thyroxine index and a normal thyrotropin level (group 2); and five had a low free thyroxine index with a normal thyrotropin level (group 3). GRTH could not be demonstrated in a detailed study of four of the subjects in whom it was suspected (groups 1 and 2). Although the prevalence of ADHD in subjects with GRTH has been reported to be 46%, the overall prevalence of GRTH must be less than 1:2500 because we failed to detect GRTH in the 277 children with ADHD studied. We conclude that the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities is higher (5.4%) in children with ADHD than in the normal population (<1%).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027490481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0027490481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80947-3
DO - 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80947-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 8410504
AN - SCOPUS:0027490481
VL - 123
SP - 539
EP - 545
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0022-3476
IS - 4
ER -