Increased incidence of extrathyroidal congenital malformations in Japanese patients with congenital hypothyroidism and their relationship with Down syndrome and other factors.

BACKGROUND

Much remains unknown regarding extrathyroidal congenital malformations (ECMs) in patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism (PCH) and Down syndrome (DS). Here, we investigated the frequency of ECMs in patients with PCH, particularly among patients with or without DS.

METHODS

In a retrospective review of questionnaires based on medical records, ECMs were identified in 1520 patients with PCH and were compared with congenital malformations among nationwide live births or liveborn infants with DS. The ECMs in PCH patients with or without DS were then analyzed. The statistical analysis was based on the Poisson distribution. Ethnicity, sex, and familial and seasonal factors were also observed in relation to the ECMs.

RESULTS

The incidences of ECMs (222/1520, 14.6%) and DS (86/1520, 5.7%) were significantly higher among the PCH patients than among the general population. Among the 127 PCH patients without chromosomal abnormalities, 101 had a single ECM and 26 had multiple ECMs. Unlike previously reported American and Egyptian patients with PCH, a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular malformations was observed in the Japanese PCH patients, and a female predominance was also observed, except in patients with multiple ECMs. Regarding the PCH patients with DS, a significantly higher, male-predominant incidence of duodenal atresia was observed, compared with data for liveborn infants with DS, whereas a male-predominant, significantly higher incidence of gastrointestinal malformations and a female-predominant, significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular malformations were found compared with data among PCH patients without DS. Moreover, urogenital and orofacial ECMs were absent among the PCH patients with DS. Regarding PCH patients without DS, a male-predominant, significantly higher incidence of urogenital malformations and a female-predominant, significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular and nervous malformations were found, compared with data for nationwide live births. In PCH patients with DS and in PCH patients with a single ECM, both familial and seasonal factors existed, while in PCH patients with multiple ECMs, only familial factors were observed.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of ECMs in PCH patients was significantly higher than in the normal population, and ethnic-, sex-, and DS-related differences were observed. Genetic and environmental factors were also identified in PCH patients with ECMs.