Abstract
The influence of maternal autoimmune thyroid disease and placental transfer of antithyroid antibodies has been discussed as one cause of congenital hypothyroidism. In order to evaluate this hypothesis thyroid microsomal antibodies(anti-M), thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-T) and TSH-receptor antibodies(anti-TSH-R) were determined in serum samples of 36 newborns with confirmed permanent hypothyroidism.
TSH receptor antibodies were found to benegative in all newborns. In four patients anti-M and in two of these also anti-T were detected. These results and the thyroid scan findings are listed in the table.
The mother of patient 4 with a high anti-M titer also had a significant anti-M titer of 1:400.000,while anti-T were absent. Thyroid function tests in the mother were normal and she was clinically euthyroid. Thyroid antibodies in the child decreased during the first six monthsof life and remained undetectable since then. 123 J Thyroid Scan at two years of age revealed the absence of any thyroid tissue.
The incidence of thyroid antibodies in our children with congenital hypothyroidism detected by TSH-screening is 11%. The absence of thyroid tissue was found only in the patient with high antibody titers suggesting a causal relationship between fetal thyroid growth and maternal antithyroid antibodies.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GrĂ¼ters, A., Bogner, U., Kotulla, P. et al. 71 INCIDENCE OF THYROID ANTIBODIES IN NEWBORNS WITH PERMANENT CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM. Pediatr Res 19, 615 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00091
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00091