Abstract
Hypothyroxinemia (HT) has been implicated as a factor in the etiology of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). To assess the importance of HT, we measured thyroxine (T4) by filter paper spot (FPS) in the first 5 days of life in premature infants (PI) with RDS, PI with illnesses other than RDS, well PI, sick term infants (TI) and well TI. FPT4 estimates, as ug/dl serum, were comparable to simultaneously obtained serum T4 values in each group.
Mean FPT4 values were similar in PI with RDS and in PI with other illnesses and were lower than in well PI (p<.001). The mean FPT4 value for well PI was similar to that for sick TI and both were lower than for well TI (p<.001). TSH, measured by FPS, was <10uU/ml in all infants with FPT4 <4ug/d1. Serum creatine phosphokinase levels, which are elevated in hypothyroidism, were lower in PI than in TI and did not correlate with FPT4 levels. HT, without other biochemical signs of hypothyroidism, is a frequent finding in sick newborns and is not limited to RDS.
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Diamond, F., Parks, J., Marino, J. et al. 291 HYPOTHROXINEMIA IN SICK AND WELL NEWBORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 412 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00296
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00296