A review on levothyroxine treatment on bone age in children with long standing untreated acquired hypothyroidism

Children with long-standing untreated hypothyroidism often experience delayed bone maturation and impaired linear growth, which can persist even after the initiation of therapy. Therefore, it is of interest to review the effects of levothyroxine therapy on bone age (BA) advancement and growth outcomes in children with hypothyroidism. Known data shows that levothyroxine therapy accelerates bone age progression and improves growth velocity and height outcomes. Early and adequate treatment yields the greatest benefits; however, delayed or prolonged untreated disease limits full height recovery. Thus, timely levothyroxine replacement is essential to minimize growth impairment and preserve adult height potential in pediatric hypothyroidism.