Radioisotope study of thyroid function in 21 mongoloid subjects, including observations in 7 parents.

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.