Abstract
We studied bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis in two children with hyperthyroidism before and during 3 yr of methimazole therapy in order to evaluate the effects of thyrotoxicosis and its therapy on mineral metabolism. Case 1, female, 4.1 year old with hyperthyroidism from 6 months. Biochemical data: increased thyroid function, phosphate and osteocalcin, decreased 1,25(OH)2 D levels. X-ray: severe osteoporosis; bone mineral content (BMC) −23.0%, BMC/BW −25.1%. Case 2, female, 7.4 year old with hyperthyroidism from 9 months. Biochemical data: thyroid function, ionized calcium and osteocalcin were increased, 1,25(OH)2 D and intact PTH were decreased. X-ray: severe osteoporosis: BMC −32.8%, BMC/BW −36.0, After the patients were euthyroid, they showed an increase of 1,25(OH)2 D and intact PTH into normal values and a fall in calcium and phosphate. Osteocalcin levels returned in normal range one yr after first evaluation. Bone mineral analysis showed no variation of BMC and BMC/BW in the first 6 months of therapy and an increase in the following 6 months. In the following two years BMC and BMC/BW rose to normal range. Our study provides further evidence that in hyperthyroidism an altered mineral homeostasis is present with a reversible disturbance in vitamin D metabolism. We found that the return to euthyroidism was associated with a normalization of mineral homeostasis and with a recovery of bone mineralization. Osteocalcin assay may be an useful index to monitor bone metabolism in hyperthyroidism.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Howard C.P., Hayles A.B. Hyperthyroidism in childhood. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 7: 127, 1978.
Cook P.B., Nassim J.R., Collins J. The effects of thyrotoxicosis upon the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Quart. J. Med. 20: 505, 1959.
Peerenboom H., Keck E., Kruskemper H.L., Strohmeyer G. The defect of intestinal calcium transport in hyperthyroidism and its response to therapy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 59: 936, 1984.
Mosekilde L., Meisen F., Bagger J.P., Myhre-Jensen O., Sorensen N.S. Bone changes in hyperthyroidism: interrelationships between bone morphometry, thyroid function and calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.) 85: 515, 1977.
Ikkos D.G., Katsichtis P., Ntalles K., Velentzas C. Osteoporosis in thyrotoxicosis. Lancet 2: 1159, 1971.
Linde J., Friis T. Osteoporosis in hyperthyroidism estimated by photon absorptiometry. Acta Endrocrinol. (Copenh.) 91: 437, 1979.
Toh H.S., Claunch B.C., Brown P.H. Effect of hyperthyroidism and its treatment on bone mineral content. Arch. Intern. Med. 145: 883, 1985.
Fraser S.A., Anderson J.B., Smith D.A. Osteoporosis and fractures following thyrotoxicosis. Lancet 1: 981, 1971.
Léger J., Czemichow P., Garaberdian M., Brauner R., Rappaport R. Ostéopénie grave chez de jeunes enfants atteints d’hyperthyroidie. Arch. Fr. Pediatr. 43: 123, 1986.
Montz R., Hehrmann C., Schneider V. Calcium Stoffwechsel bei hyperthyreose. Radiologe 14: 166, 1974.
Barden H.S., Mazess R.B. Bone densitometry in infants. J. Pedriatr. (Suppl.) 113: 172, 1988.
Saggese G., Baroncelli G.I., Bertelloni S., Buggiani B. Livelli normali di osteocalcina in età pediatrica. Comparazione con la mineralizzazione ossea e con le variazioni fisiologiche dei livelli di 1,25diidrossivitamina D. Riv. Ital. Pediatr. (IJP) 15: 109, 1989.
Saggese G. Bertelloni S., Baroncelli G.I. Radioreceptor 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydrox-yvitamin D assay using ultrafine stationary phases in H PLC step. Gior. It. Chim. Clin. 11: 177, 1986.
Saggese G., Federico G., Ghirri P., Cipriani J., Bertelloni S., Baroncelli G.I. Bone mineral content in pedriatrics. Normal values between 2 and 19 years. First Italian data. Minerva Pediatr. 38: 545, 1986.
Tanner J.M., Whitehouse R.H., Marshall W.A. Assessment of skeletal maturity and prediction of adult height (TW2 method). New York, Academic Press, 1975.
Siersbaek-Nielsen K., Skovsted L., Molhoolm Hansen J., Kristensen M., Christensen L. Hydroxyproline excretion in the urine and calcium metabolism during long-term treatment of thyrotoxicosis with propylthiouracil. Acta Med. Scand. 189: 485, 1971.
Lukert B.P., Higgins J.C., Stoskopf M.M. Serum osteocalcin is increased in patients with hyperthyroidism and decreased in patients receiving glucocorticoids. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 62: 1056, 1986.
Mosekilde L., Christensen M.S., Meisen F., Schwartz-Sorensen N. Effect of antithyroid treatment on calcium-phosphorus metabolism in hyperthyroidism I: chemical quantities in serum and in urine. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.) 87: 743, 1978.
Cooper D.S., Kaplan M.M., Ridgway E.C., Maloof F., Daniels G.H. Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme patterns in hyperthyroidism. Ann. Intern. Med. 90: 164, 1979.
Cole D.E.C., Carpenter T.O., Gundberg C.M. Serum osteocalcin concentrations in children with metabolic bone disease. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 56: 1063, 1983.
Raisz L.G. Local and systemic factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. N. Engl. J. Med. 318: 818, 1988.
Bijlsma J.W.J., Duursma S.A., Roelofs J.M.M., Derkinderen P.J. Thyroid function and bone turnover. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.) 104: 42, 1983.
MacFarlane I.A., Mawer E.B., Berry J., Hann J. Vitamin D metabolism in hyperthyroidism. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 17: 51, 1982.
Kumar R. The metabolism and mechanism of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Kidney Int. 30: 793, 1986.
Cross H.S., Polzleitner D., Peterlik M. Intestinal phosphate and calcium absorption: joint regulation by thyroid hormones and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh) 113: 96, 1986.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saggese, G., Bertelloni, S. & Baronöelli, G.I. Bone mineralization and calciotropic hormones in children with hyperthyroidism. Effects of methimazole therapy. J Endocrinol Invest 13, 587–592 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348633
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348633