Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings of children and adolescents with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) at diagnosis and during follow-up.

Materials and Methods:

Between January 2015 and January 2019, a total of 181 patients aged between 4 and 18 years who were followed in the pediatric endocrinology department were evaluated. All patients were evaluated at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up with the clinical, laboratory and radiological data.

Results:

Female patients constituted 85% of all patients. Mean age at diagnosis was 13.4±3.2 years and 77% of patients were pubertal. The follow-up period was 22.5±10.3 months (4-54 months). At the time of diagnosis 35% of patients were euthyroid, 29% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 22% had overt hypothyroidism, 4% had subclinical hyperthyroidism and 10% had overt hyperthyroidism. The common complaints of the patients were fatigue (44%), hair loss (25%), constipation (23%) and goitre (21%). In the ultrasonographic imaging of the patients, nodule was detected in 13% of the patients. The frequency of nodules was higher in patients with euthyroidism. Increased size of the thyroid gland was common in patients with hyperthyroidism. In follow-up, nodule development was observed in 6% of patients. All patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism became euthyroid during follow-up. Hypothyroidism developed in 13% of euthyroid patients during follow-up. The most common concomitant diseases were polycystic ovary syndrome and vitiligo.

Conclusion:

The admission of patients with HT is highly variable and clinical changes have continued during follow-up. Therefore these patients should be followed closely from the diagnosis and attention should be paid to other related diseases.

Keywords: Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Euthyroidism, Subclinical Hyperthyroidism, Thyroid Function, Long-term Prognosis