Hashimoto's disease in a cohort of 29 children and adolescents. Epidemiology, clinical course, and comorbidities in the short and long term

Abstract

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of goiter and hypothyroidism among children and adolescents. Its clinical manifestations and course vary. The objective of this study was to review the clinical and evolutionary characteristics of Hashimoto's disease in the pediatric population. Clinical, analytical, ultrasound, epidemiological, and evolutionary data of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis seen at Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante between January 2010 and January 2016 were analyzed. A total of 29 patients were included in the study. A higher prevalence of girls was observed, at a 2:1 ratio. The main reason for consultation was the accidental detection of high thyroid stimulating hormone levels or positive anti-thyroid antibodies in a lab test done for other reason. In the initial analysis, 53.3% of patients had subclinical hypothyroidism and only 10% of them had frank hypothyroidism. Two patients developed thyroid cancer.