Hypothyroidism and growth failure in diabetes mellitus.

The prevalence of thyroid disease in 134 children, adolescents, and young adults with diabetes mellitus beginning in childhood is described. Clustering of a family history of thyroid disease and the presence of thyrogastric antibodies in some patients supports the concept of familial autoimmunity. In 4 children a diagnosis of hypothyroidism had already been made, one of whom had shown marked faltering of growth. In a further 3 there was evidence of previously unrecognised subclinical hypothyroidism but the growth of 2 of them had been good. The findings of this study indicate that while subclinical hypothyroidism should be considered in a diabetic whose growth is faltering, it is rarely a cause of such growth failure.