• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.799-805
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• 2005

Hypothyroidism is a deficiency in thyroid hormone secretion by the thyroid gland and a defect in thyroid hormonal receptor activity. It is categorized by the two major forms in children, the one is congenital hypothyroidism and the other is acquired hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the commonest treatable causes of mental retardation and occurs in 1 in 3,000-4,000 infants worldwide. Acquired hypothyroidism is a diseases that have an onset usually after 6 months of age and it may be relate to deceleration in linear growth. The objectives of this article are obtain general and practical concepts of congenital and acquired hypothyroidism during infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the characteristics of thyroid nodules among infants diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. Methods: A retrospective study of 660 infants (374 males, 286 females) diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism was carried out at the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic in Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Korea, between May 2003 and February 2013. The average age at diagnosis was $1.16{\pm}1.68$ months. Results: Of the 28 patients (4.2%) with thyroid nodules, 17 (2.6%) had cystic thyroid nodules and 11 (1.6%) had solid thyroid nodules. There were no significant differences in gender or age between congenital hypothyroidism patients who hadthyroid nodules and those who did not. All nodules were asymptomatic. The average age at diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism with nodules was $1.42{\pm}1.39$ months. All detected nodules measured less than 1 cm in diameter. Twenty-two of the 28 infants (78.6%) had only one nodule, while multiple nodules were found in 6 infants (21.4%). Of the 28 infants diagnosed with nodules, 16 underwent thyroid ultrasonography during follow-up and 8 of them (50%) showed no signs of nodules at thyroid ultrasonography. Conclusion: The prevalence of thyroid nodules in infants with congenital hypothyroidism was 4.2%. Most thyroid nodules were small in size and benign, disappearing during follow-up observation. We therefore conclude that thyroid nodules in infants with congenital hypothyroidism can simply be observed and do not require direct treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1125-1139
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• 2006

In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia & congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU & congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. Government decided to test PKU & hypothyroidism for all newborns from 1997. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government didn't decide laboratory center for a certain district and placed responsibility on free competition. Government are planning to test 573,000 newborns from 1998, Government decided to screen 6 items PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disese, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. 17 laboratores are participating now. The cost of screening test is supported by both the federal government and local government on a 40-60 basis. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. Interlaboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. According to the government project, 3,707,773 newborns were screened. 86 PKU, 718 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/43,114 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/4,612. Maeil dairy company produced new special formula for PKU, MMA and PA, MSUD, urea cycle disorder, homocystinuria, isovaleric acidemia from Oct. 1999. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass sereening & Wilson disease from 2008. Now it is a very important problem to decrease laboratory numbers of neonatal screening in Korea. So we are considering 4-5 central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2006

Purpose : The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs adopted newborn screening for the low-income families in 1991 and expanded in 1997 to cover all newborns. At the beginning of the program 6 diseases were selected for screening but the number of screening items had been reduced to two (congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria) from the year 1995. Now, the government program has a fifteen year history. The purpose of this study was to analyze results of neonatal screening tests and prevalence at birth of phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism in Korea. Methods : The results of neonatal screening tests were collected from public health centers during 15 years from 1991 to 2005. These data were analyzed for number of tested newborns and prevalence at birth of the inborn errors of metabolism. Results : Neonatal screening test for inborn error of metabolism was performed for 3,707,773 newborns for 15 years. Among newborns who were screened 718 congenital hypothyroidisms and 86 phenylketonurias were detected, and these presented an prevalence at bith of congenital hypothyroidism 1/5,164 and that of phenylketonuria 1/43,114. The total prevalence of two diseases was 1/4,612. Conclusion : National screening program should be expanded to include all items of screening tests for whole newborns and established correct prevalence of other inherited metabolic diseases in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Many inborn errors of metabolism can be completely cured with early detection and early treatment. This is why neonatal screening on inborn errors of metabolism is implemented worldwide. In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia and congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU and congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government decided to screen six items of PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. In 2014, thirteen laboratories are participating. Inter laboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. According to the government project, from 1997 to 2013, 7,080,569 newborns were screened. 144 PKU, 2.451 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/49,170 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/2,888. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. By January 2007, many European countries had expanded of their newborn screening programs by inclusion of Tandem mass spectrometry. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass spectrometry from 2016. We are considering four to five central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose. And I hope to expand test including Wilson disease screening test and lysosomal storage diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.1018-1021
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• 2010

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is a rare autosomal dominant congenital disorder caused by mutations in the $SALL1$ gene. Its signs and symptoms overlap with other genetic syndromes, including VACTERL association, Pendred syndrome, Baller-Gerold syndrome, and cat eye syndrome. Structural vertebral abnormalities, hypoplasia of the thumb, and radial bone abnormalities, which are not usually associated with TBS, help in the differential diagnosis of these syndromes. We report the case of a family whose members were diagnosed with TBS with congenital hypothyroidism and had a novel $SALL1$ gene mutation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2005

Purpose : Many inborn errors of metabolism can be completely cured with early detection and early treatment. This is why neonatal screening on inborn errors of metabolism is implemented worldwide. In this study, a cost-benefit analysis was performed on the neonatal screening of phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism in Korea. Methods : This study included 2,908,231 neonates who took the neonatal screening on phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism in Korea from January 1991 to December 2003. From those neonates, the incidence rates of phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism were measured. Furthermore, based on 495,000 babies born in 2002, were calculated and compared the total costs in case when neonatal screening on phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism is implemented, and when not. Results : If the neonatal screening on phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism is implemented, benefits far exceed costs at a ratio of 1.77 : 1 in phenylketonuria, and 11.11 : 1 in congenital hypothyroidism. In terms of wons, the present neonatal screening on phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism will gain us more than 29 billion wons every year. Conclusion : This study only concerns the monetary aspects of the neonatal screening. Therefore, the benefits of the neonatal screening is underestimated by ignoring precious but not measurable values such as quality of life. However, the present neonatal screening on phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism is found to be beneficial and should continue for the good of the nation as well as that of the patients.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is detected at a rate of 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 live births, making it the most common congenital endocrine disorder worldwide. CH is most commonly caused by defects in thyroid development leading to thyroid dysgenesis or dyshormonogenesis. Congenital hypothyroidism is usually sporadic, but up to 2% of cases of thyroid dysgenesis are familial, and CH caused by organification defects is often inherited in a recessive manner. The candidate genes associated with this genetically heterogeneous disorder fall into two main groups: those causing thyroid gland dysgenesis and those causing dyshormonogenesis. Genes associated with thyroid gland dysgenesis include the TSHR gene in nonsyndromic CH, and Gsa and the thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1, TTF-2, and Pax-8) genes, which are associated with different complex syndromes that include CH. Among genes associated with dyshormonogenesis, the TPO and TG genes were initially described, and more recently PDS, NIS, and THOX2 gene defects. There is some evidence for a third group of CH conditions associated with iodothyronine transporter defects that are, in turn, associated with severe neurological sequelae.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1981

Congenital hypothyroidism due to organification defect was first reported by Haddad and Sidbury in 1959. The organification defect is easily proved by perchlorate discharge test. We experienced a patient who had large goiter, growth and mental retardation, and revealed positive reponse to perchlorate discharges test, and the surgical biopsied specimen showed Huerthle cell adenoma, which was probably due to chronic stimulation of thyroid stimulating hormone, or coexisted incidentally. Described here a case of congenital hypothyroidism due to organification defect associated with Huerthle cell adenoma, with review of some literatures.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-143
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• 2013

The patient who has congenital hypothyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism could have mental retardation even though adequate hormone treatment and cannot endure conventional dental treatment. In this case, general anesthesia is selected to administer effective dental treatment. But, there could be symptoms such as anemia, neuropathy, associated pituitary or adrenal hypofunction, cardiac failure even in euthyroid state. And, bradycardia, mental dullness, hypothermia, slow reflexes can appear in case of inadequate thyroid hormone replacement. Especially, macroglosssia, slow drug metabolism, exaggerated responses to anesthetic agents and decreased ventilatory responses could be problem during general anesthesia. The presentation of hypoparathyroidism also varies depending on the chronicity of the result of hypocalcemia. Muscle spasms/tetany, paresthesias, and seizures may occur in an acute onset. Chronic hypocalcaemia causes fatigue, muscle cramps, lethargy, personality changes, and cerebration defects.