THYROID ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Objective: To study thyroid function in children infected with human i mmunodeficiency virus (HIV) and determine whether there are correlates of thyroid dysfunction with disease progression. Study design: Total and free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, reverse triiodothyronine, thyrot ropin, and thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) were measured in 167 child ren with HIV infection (age, 1 to 19 years; mean, 9.15 years), Setting : Pediatric Blanch, National Cancer Institute. Results: Flee thyroxine was at or below the lower limit of normal (normal, 1.0 to 1.9 ng/dl) in 18% of the children; thyrotropin and TBG levels were above the norm al range in 31% and 30%, respectively. There was an inverse correlatio n between CD4(+) cell count and thyrotropin, and between CD4(+) cell c ount and TBG, No correlation was found between thyroid function and ot her disease symptoms or medications. Conclusion: These findings indica te that thyroid abnormalities occur more frequently in children with H IV infection than was previously reported, have a different profile fr om the thyroid abnormalities associated with other chronic disease con ditions, and correlate with disease progression.