Thyroid function test abnormalities-isolated TPOAb+, SCH and hypothyroxinemia and preschool children's neurodevelopment

Linlin Zhu; Yuzhu Teng; Yufan Guo; Xue Ru; Xiaoyan Wu; Jiahu Hao; Fangbiao Tao; Kun Huang

doi:10.1111/cen.14963

Thyroid function test abnormalities-isolated TPOAb+, SCH and hypothyroxinemia and preschool children's neurodevelopment

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2023 Nov;99(5):492-501. doi: 10.1111/cen.14963. Epub 2023 Aug 25.

Authors

Linlin Zhu¹, Yuzhu Teng¹, Yufan Guo¹, Xue Ru¹, Xiaoyan Wu¹, Jiahu Hao¹, Fangbiao Tao¹, Kun Huang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
² Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

PMID: 37622424
DOI: 10.1111/cen.14963

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid function test abnormalities are frequent and associated with the offspring's adverse neurodevelopment. This study aimed to examine the relationship between maternal thyroid function test abnormalities before 20 gestational weeks and children's cognitive, emotional and behavioural development at 3-6 years of age.

Patients and measurements: A total of 2243 mother-child pairs were included in the final analysis. Maternal thyroid function was evaluated retrospectively during the children's preschool period. The serum thyrotrophin, free thyroxine and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay during the follow-up period. The neurodevelopmental status of preschoolers aged 3-6 years was evaluated by parental versions of The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool and The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires. The associations between maternal thyroid function test abnormalities and preschoolers' neurodevelopment were examined using Poisson regression models.

Results: After adjusting for potential confounders in Poisson regression analyses, it showed that maternal isolated TPOAb positivity before 20 gestational weeks may be associated with the increased risk of abnormalities in peer problems (odds ratio [OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 287). Maternal isolated SCH before 20 gestational weeks was observed to be related with increased risk of abnormalities in inhibition (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.37, 5.41), working memory (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.70), conduct problems (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.09), hyperactivity (OR = 1.94, 95% CI:1.08, 3.49) and total difficulties (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.34). Maternal isolated hypothyroxinemia before 20 gestational was observed to be related with increased risk of abnormalities in peer problems (OR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.17, 6.27).

Conclusions: Thyroid function test abnormalities before 20 gestational weeks may be associated with children's neurodevelopment at 3-6 years of age.

Keywords: child; neurodevelopment; thyroid function test abnormalities.

Abstract

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