Functional state of the pituitary-thyroid system in children with allergic dermatosis

Abstract

Background. Approximately 10 % of the pediatric population suffers from atopic dermatitis, and this disease is most common skin allergic pathology. The influence of thyroid hormones on the development of atopy is known. Study purpose was to evaluate the features of the functional status of the pituitary-thyroid system in children with allergic dermatosis. Materials and methods. 72 children aged from 7 to 18 years were divided into 4 groups: group I — patients who suffer from atopic dermatitis (n = 29), II — children with allergic contact dermatitis (n = 17), III group — patients with simple contact dermatitis (n = 16), IV group — healthy children (n = 10). The levels of thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, antibodies to thyroglobulin (TG) were determined. Results. Erythema was found in 95.2 %, edema — in 43.5 %, exudation — in 37.1 %, excoriation — in 43.5 %, lichenification — in 56.4 % of the total group of patients. Dysfunctions of the pituitary-thyroid system, both at the central and peripheral level, were determined. The frequency of antibodies to TG detection in children of the first group was high and exceeded the average population values by 3.7 times (36.7 %, χ2 = 17.5, p < 0.05). The level of TG in all of observed patients was significantly higher than that of in the comparison group. The frequency of detection of antibo­dies to TG in the group of patients with the disease experience more than 10 years exceeded the average population values by 3.2 times (34.0 %, χ2 = 8.1, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Changes in the morpho-functional state of the pituitary-thyroid system, mainly of an autoimmune nature, are revealed in children with allergic dermatosis.

Keywords

• children
• pituitary-thyroid system
• allergic dermatosis