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  • Endocrine Dysfunction in Ch...
    Veras Gonçalves, Andréia; Miranda-Filho, Demócrito de B; Rocha Vilela, Líbia Cristina; Ramos, Regina Coeli Ferreira; de Araújo, Thalia V B; de Vasconcelos, Rômulo A L; Wanderley Rocha, Maria Angela; Eickmann, Sophie Helena; Cordeiro, Marli Tenório; de Oliveira Ventura, Maria Liana Vieira; Montarroyos, Ulisses Ramos; Mertens Brainer, Alessandra; Costa Gomes, Maria Durce; da Silva, Paula Fabiana Sobral; Martelli, Celina M T; Brickley, Elizabeth B; Ximenes, Ricardo A A

    Viruses, 12/2020, Volume: 13, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    Congenital viral infections and the occurrence of septo-optic dysplasia, which is a combination of optic nerve hypoplasia, abnormal formation of structures along the midline of the brain, and pituitary hypofunction, support the biological plausibility of endocrine dysfunction in Zika-related microcephaly. In this case series we ascertained the presence and describe endocrine dysfunction in 30 children with severe Zika-related microcephaly from the MERG Pediatric Cohort, referred for endocrinological evaluation between February and August 2019. Of the 30 children, 97% had severe microcephaly. The average age at the endocrinological consultation was 41 months and 53% were female. The most frequently observed endocrine dysfunctions comprised short stature, hypothyroidism, obesity and variants early puberty. These dysfunctions occurred alone 57% or in combination 43%. We found optic nerve hypoplasia (6/21) and corpus callosum hypoplasia (20/21). Seizure crises were reported in 86% of the children. The most common-and clinically important-endocrine dysfunctions were pubertal dysfunctions, thyroid disease, growth impairment, and obesity. These dysfunctions require careful monitoring and signal the need for endocrinological evaluation in children with Zika-related microcephaly, in order to make early diagnoses and implement appropriate treatment when necessary.