Endocrine Journal
Online ISSN : 1348-4540
Print ISSN : 0918-8959
ISSN-L : 0918-8959
ORIGINALS
A Japanese Patient of Congenital Hypothyroidism with Cerebellar Atrophy
Toshihiro TAJIMAFumie FUJIWARAAkira SUDOShinji SAITOKenji FUJIEDA
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 54 Issue 6 Pages 941-944

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Abstract

We encountered a Japanese patient of congenital hypothyroidism with severe cerebellum atrophy. The boy was born after 40 weeks of gestation by normal vaginal delivery from nonconsanguineous parents. There were no abnormal physical findings; however neonatal mass screening for congenital hypothyroidism at 5 days of age demonstrated elevated thyrotropin (TSH) level (15.5 μU/ml, normal range 0.54-10.0 μU/ml). He was suspected to have subclinical or mild congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Thus he was treated with L-thyroxine using a regimen that rendered his serum TSH concentration within normal range from 27 days of age. Despite early and adequate treatment, he showed signs of global developmental delay and became gradually hypotonic and exhibited a staggering gait at 3 years of age. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated marked cerebellar atrophy with an intact brainstem. Thyroidal uptake of radioiodide and thyroid gland size were normal, indicating a functional defect only. The relation between congenital hypothyroidism and severe cerebellar atrophy in our patient is not clear. As only a few cases of the combination of CH and cerebellar anomalies have been described previously, cerebellar symptoms in CH should be examined carefully.

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© The Japan Endocrine Society
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