[Study of the influence of anticonvulsant treatment on thyroid function]. / Estudio de la influencia del tratamiento anticonvulsivante en la función tiroidea.

We studied in two groups of epileptic patients the thyroid alterations induced by anticonvulsant therapy (AC). Group I (28 cases): T4t and TSH were measured before and after 3 and 6 months on treatment with AC. Group II (75 cases on treatment): thyroid hormones were measured only once. In cases with low value of T4t or high TSH a TRH test and FT4 determination were performed. In group I two cases with low T4t were found after six months on treatment (7%), one of them with low FT4 and both with normal TSH. In group II we found 6 cases (7.8%) with low T4t and FT4, two of them with high TSH. It was not possible argue against factor and the low incidence reported argue against rutinary screening. Anycase, this screening will never be performed before the lag time observed (6 months).

[Anthropometric-nutritional status of a Spanish middle-class juvenile population. Study by age and sex groups]. / Estado antropométrico-nutricional de una población infantil de clase media española. Estudio por grupos de edad y sexo.

To make an initial approach to the current nutritional situation of the Spanish infant population, we carried out an anthropometric study of the children from 6 to 15 years of age in two schools in Fuenlabrada (Madrid) in a middle to lower class social environment. A total of 1,026 children were studied, to determine weight, height, tricipital fold and arm circumference. These parameters were used to calculate the weight/height ratio (w/h) and the muscular circumference of the arm. All these parameters were tabulated in percentile terms for comparison. The sample was divided into groups according to sex and to age (under 9, 9 to 12 and over 12). We found an overall w/h ratio of 108.8 +/- 17.4, more than the theoretical 100% (p < 0.001); 20.6% of the children over 120%. The Tricipital Fold (TFp) percentile was 62.5 +/- 27, with no differences according to age or sex. The percentile for arm muscular circumference (AMCp) was 48.8 +/- 27 for girls and 41.6 +/- 28 for boys (p < 0.001). Finally, we found a positive and significant correlation (p < 0.05) between w/h and AMCp (r = 0.51) and between w/h and TFp (r = 0.57). We conclude that the population studied is significantly overweight, confirming previous studies. Girls showed better nutritional parameters than the boys, apparently less nutritionally affected by the middle to low social environment. Finally, the w/h ratio, as an isolated parameter, is a good overall index of the nutritional state of children.