An Exploratory Cross‐Sectional Study on Thyroid Hormone Reference Intervals in Children With Down syndrome
Authors' conclusion
We provide evidence for age-specific reference intervals for TSH and FT4 levels in children with Down syndrome, which may help clinicians accurately evaluate thyroid hormone status.
Study context
- Population
- Children with Down syndrome aged 6 months to 15 years, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, April 2019–March 2020; excluded: thyroid-influencing medications or missing thyroid hormone datafinal analysis
- Participants
- 301 children
- Exposure
- Infants vs Toddlers vs School children vs Adolescents
- Outcome
- Age-specific reference intervals for TSH and FT4 (nonparametric methods)
Methodological detailsexploratory, single-centre
- Exploratory
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
| Group | Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference interval (mIU/L) | Free thyroxine (FT4) reference interval (pmol/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | 2.03-14.22 | 13.57-26.42 |
| Toddlers | 1.79-12.98 | 13.20-22.70 |
| School children | 1.26-10.24 | 13.15-22.36 |
| Adolescents | 0.58-10.11 | 11.97-24.77 |
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference interval (mIU/L)
Infants2.03-14.22
Toddlers1.79-12.98
School children1.26-10.24
Adolescents0.58-10.11
Free thyroxine (FT4) reference interval (pmol/L)
Infants13.57-26.42
Toddlers13.20-22.70
School children13.15-22.36
Adolescents11.97-24.77
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Association of age with TSH and FT4 levels (multivariate regression)
- Significant inverse association between age and TSH and FT4 levels
- P < 0.01
Original publication
An Exploratory Cross‐Sectional Study on Thyroid Hormone Reference Intervals in Children With Down syndrome. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 18 March 2025. doi:10.
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