RADIOISOTOPE STUDY OF THYROID FUNCTION IN 21 MONGOLOID SUBJECTS, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS IN 7 PARENTS

Abstract

MONGOLISM, a common clinical entity (1) of unknown etiology is believed to result from deceleration of normal growth during the fetal period (2). A possible relationship between abnormalities in development and function of the thyroid gland and the fetal growth process in mongolism is suggested by anatomic evidence of pathologic alterations in the thyroids of mongoloid children (1, 3), and the reported frequency of abnormal thyroid function in their mothers (4). Although data are available concerning isolated phases of thyroid function in mongolism, a detailed investigation of the various aspects had not, at the time of our studies, been carried out. This report presents the results of an investigation of the thyroid gland in mongolism, utilizing a variety of recently available techniques. METHOD Twenty-eight subjects were studied.¹ Twenty-one were mongoloid patients in residence at the Walter E. Fernald State School (Massachusetts Department of Health). Their ages ranged from 5 to 26 years. The remaining 7 were healthy parents (5 mothers and 2 fathers) of mongoloids. Sixty-four euthyroid subjects ranging in age from 10 to 65 years served as controls (5.)