Frequency of Thyroid Function Disorders among a Population of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Premature Infants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 MD, Associate Professor of Neonatology, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 MD, Assistant Professor of Neonatology, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 MD, General Physician, Department of Health, Academic Member of Al Mahdi- Mehr Isfahan Higher Education Institution, Isfahan, Iran

5 MD, Assistant Professor , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Thyroid function disorders, particularly congenital hypothyroidism (CHT), are important endocrine dysfunctions associated with permanent morbidities. CHT is more prevalent among preterm low-birth-weight neonates compared to term infants with normal weight.
Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 126 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates referred to the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of two tertiary referral hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, Iran during 2012-2014. On day five of birth and two, four, and six weeks after birth, blood samples were collected from the infants to determine thyroid function disorders, including transient hypothyroxinemia, neonatal hypothyroidism, transient primary neonatal hypothyroidism, and transient hyperthyrotropinemia.
Results: In total, 126 infants with mean gestational age of 30.5±2.29 weeks and mean birth weight of 1246.90±193.58 g were enrolled in this study. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of Conclusion: According to the results of this study, thyroid function disorders are relatively common in preterm VLBW neonates, and serum T4 level is correlated with gestational age in these infants. Therefore, thyroid function tests with a consistent protocol are required for premature infants. It is recommended that further research be performed on larger sample sizes to investigate the prevalence of thyroid function disorders in preterm infants.

Keywords

References

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