Zia Muhammad, Muhammad Irshad.
Comparison of serum TSH and t4 levels in preterm and term neonates for screening of congenital hypothyroidism.
J Med Sci Jan ;21(4):194-7.

Objective: To Compare Serum TSH and T4 Levels in Preterm and Fullterm Neonates for Screening of Congenital Hypothyroidism. Material and Methods: A total of 101 neonates aged 3-7 days, both preterm (by Ballard score age from 28 weeks to 37 weeks) and full term were included in the study out of which 52 were preterm and 49 were full term respectively. Preterm neonates of gestational age of less than 28 weeks and fullterm neonates with gestational age of more than 42 weeks, severely septicemic babies, hyaline membrane disease, infants of diabetic mothers, dysmorphic and neonates with congenital anomalies were excluded from the study. Venous blood samples of all the babies were taken with sterilized techniques and sent for testing to laboratory of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar for serum TSH and T4 levels by radioimmunoassay. Results: There were 101 neonates aged 3-7 days, including 52 preterm and 49 full term babies with mean gestational age of preterm at the time of delivery was 33 weeks ranges from 28 weeks to 36 weeks. Out of 52 preterm neonates, 9 were found to be hypothyroxinemic and 1 fullterm out of 49 was having congenital hypothyroidism. Serum TSH values in preterm infants were not increased in accordance to lower T4 values while in one full term neonate lower T4 level was associated with increased serum TSH levels. Conclusion: Transient hypothyroxinemia with out hyperthyrotropinemia is relatively common in preterm than in full-term neonates. Combine TSH and T4 screening strategy is more helpful in detecting newborns with congenital hypothyroidism.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com