[Clinical and laboratory characteristics of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents].

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of chronic autoimune thyroiditis were analysed in sixty-seven patients (55 girls). At the time of diagnosis the mean +/- SEM age of 67 patients was 11.6 +/- 2.9 years. Diagnosis of the disease was based on the findings of the enlarged thyroid gland on palpation and positive thyroglobulin and/or microsomal antibodies. The assessment of thyroid function was based on clinical diagnosis and on the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine. Initially 36 (53.7%) of 67 patients were euthyroid, 15 (22.4%) were hyperthyroid and 16 (23.9%) were hypothyroid. In addition to the well known clinical signs of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, the palpable lymh nodes in the immediate proximity of the thyroid gland were found in high frequency (47%) in our patients with euthyroid or hyperthyroid goiter. The thyroid function was followed-up in fifty-three patients for an average of 2.6 (0,3-7) years. No progression to hypothyroidism was clinically observed, or demonstrated by laboratory findings in euthyroid patients. In seven patients with subclinical hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis spontaneous recoveries of thyroid function occurred. The majority of hyperthyroid patients (80%) required a prolonged antithyroid treatment. In all patients with clinical and laboratory signs of hypothyroidism the replacement therapy with thyroxine was started at the time of diagnosis.