Antithyroid antibodies and thyroid dysfunction in Saudi children with Down syndrome

Sella turcica morphometrics in subjects with down syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Since the number of patients diagnosed with Down syndrome seeking orthodontic treatment is increasing, clinicians could contribute by applying diagnostic modalities used frequently in the orthodontic field for research purposes. Thus, The aim of the present study is to implement morphometric methods to investigate the size and shape of sella turcica in subjects with Down syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, archive records of 24 individuals with Down syndrome were compared to 48 healthy controls matched for age and gender. Parameters such as sella anterior, midpoint, and posterior height were measured, as well as sella width, area, and length were calculated. Independent sample t-tests were applied for the comparison of differences in sella turcica dimensions. Geometric morphometric analysis of the sella was performed with, implementing methods such as Procrustes superimposition and principal component analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were found for sella anterior height, sella midpoint height, sella posterior height, sella maximum height, sella length, and sella area. All the aforementioned values were significantly increased in the Down syndrome subjects (p<0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) depicted a statistically significant difference in sella shape between patients with Down syndrome and healthy controls (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with Down syndrome presented significantly increased sella turcica dimensions as well statistically significant differences in shape compared to healthy controls.

Differences and associations of metabolic and vitamin D status among patients with and without sub-clinical hypothyroid dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Sub-clinical hypothyroid dysfunction, a relatively understudied disorder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has significant clinical implications if not properly monitored. Also from KSA, more than 50% of the population suffer from hypovitaminosis D (<50 nmol/l). In this cross-sectional case-control study, we described the differences and associations in the metabolic patterns of adult Saudis with and without hypothyroid dysfunction in relation to their vitamin D status, PTH, calcium and lipid profile.

METHODS

A total of 94 consenting adult Saudis [52 controls (without subclinical hypothyroidism), 42 cases (previously diagnosed subjects)] were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were obtained and fasting blood samples were taken for ascertaining lipid and thyroid profile, as well as measuring PTH, 25(OH) vitamin D and calcium.

RESULTS

Cases had a significantly higher body mass index than the controls (p < 0.001). Circulating triglycerides was also significantly higher in cases than the controls (p = 0.001). A significant positive association between HDL-cholesterol and PTH (R = 0.56; p = 0.001), as well as a negative and modestly significant negative association between LDL-cholesterol and PTH (R = - 20.0; p = 0.04) were observed. FT3 was inversely associated with circulating 25 (OH) vitamin D (R = -0.25; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with hypothyroid dysfunction possess several cardiometabolic risk factors that include obesity and dyslipidemia. The association between PTH and cholesterol levels as well as the inverse association between vitamin D status and FT3 needs to be reassessed prospectively on a larger scale to confirm these findings.

Childhood goitre in Saudi Arabia

Thirty-two Saudi children (aged 1.5-14 years) with goitre were seen over a 6.5-year period in a paediatric endocrinology clinic. There was a female to male ratio of 1.9:1. Of these, 27 (84.3%) had diffuse thyroid enlargement and five (15.7%) nodular goitre. The commonest causes were dyshormonogenesis (37.5%) followed by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (34.4%). Three boys and one girl had Graves' disease. There were three (9.4%) with simple goitre and one case each of iodine deficiency goitre and tuberculous thyroiditis. Further study of the prevalence and causes of goitre, including iodine deficiency goitre, in Saudi Arabia is suggested.