Catch-up growth in a girl with prolonged autoimmune hypothyroidism complicated by precocious puberty after thyroid hormone replacement

Abstract

Decreased height velocity (HV), one of the clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism which is completely reversed by appropriate thyroid hormone replacement, is called catchup growth. The objective of this report is to determine the longitudinal growth of a girl with prolonged hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis complicated by precocious puberty. A 9-year-and-6-month-old girl presented with vaginal bleeding, growth failure and the typical physical signs of hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. She received Eltroxin replacement. The height has gained a total of 33 cm during 2 years and 6 months of treatment without additional treatment by GnRHa or any combination of GH and GnRHa. The recent age is 12 years, and her height is 145 cm which is within the target range. A patient with long-standing hypothyroidism, complicated with precocious puberty, has the potential to catch up with their height close to their genetic potential after thyroid hormone replacement alone.