Are labs indicated?

[kitty9309]

Hello.
My son is 12 years old and his growth has fallen to the 7th pecentile. His height is the 15th pecentile.
His father is only 5'5".
We asked his pediatrician if he would order thyroid antibodies and a TSH as a baseline level. The ped said it was not indicated.
There is a strong family history of Hasimoto's Hypothyroidism. Myself (mom), my mother and one sister have it. I also have had Alopecia Areata and mild Vitiligo.
My son has had chronic constipation since he was 9 months old and he needs Miralax to have a BM.
I have read that every child with a falling off in the height should have thyroid testing.

What is your opinion?
Thank you.

[kitty9309]

Thank you so, so much.
I will speak to the ped again with your suggestions in mind.

[Deanna L Aftab Guy, MD]

I agree with you, family history in a child who is falling off the curve even with short parents deserves a workup, xray called a bone age, tsh, free T4, thyroid antibodies(because of familiy history) cbc, cmp, celiac antibodies and a somatomedin C(this is a measurement of how growth hormone is working in the body. If his bones are delayed this is good since he has more room to grow. Also you have two kinds of autoimmune problems making him more prone to this. Talk with your pediatrician again but set up a visit for it rather than just calling