CATCH-UP GROWTH AFTER PROLONGED HYPOTHYROIDISM

This report presents an analysis of four patients who suffered from lo ngstanding untreated hypothyroidism, with special attention to the pha se of catch-up growth after the start of L-thyroxine treatment. Althou gh a permanent height loss could not be prevented, the capacity to est ablish a remarkable catch-up growth spurt proved to be still intact, e ven after a long period of thyroid dysfunction. Conlusion Catch-up gro wth in hypothyroidism may be incomplete if treatment has been started shortly before or during puberty.