Thyroid function in term and late preterm infants with respiratory distress in relation to severity of illness.
Publication/Presentation Date
2-1-2010
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transient hypothyroxinemia is common in extremely premature infants, but has not been extensively investigated in ill term and late preterm infants. We hypothesized that free thyroxine (T(4)) levels in term and late preterm infants with respiratory distress would be inversely related to severity of illness
METHODS: Eligible infants included those had > or =35 weeks of gestation requiring mechanical ventilation or nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Thyroid function (thyroid-stimulating hormone, T(4), free T(4) [fT(4)], and free triiodothyronine) and cortisol levels were collected at four specified intervals (birth, day 2, day 3, and day 5 of life). Illness severity was measured using score for neonatal acute physiology (SNAP). Infants with an SNAP > or =10 were considered to have severe illness. Statistical analysis included repeated measures analysis of variance.
RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean gestational age of study infants was 37.0 +/- 1.7 weeks. Infant with SNAP > or =10 had a diminished thyroid-stimulating hormone at birth. There was an inverse correlation between SNAP at birth and fT(4.) There was also an inverse correlation between lowest measured fT(4) and highest mean airway pressure, oxygenation index, and A-a gradient. Infants who received inhaled nitric oxide had diminished fT(4) levels compared to infants who did not receive this therapy. There were no differences in cortisol in those infants with and without SNAP > or =10 during the study period.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study sample, there was an association between severity of illness and fT(4) levels at birth, and infants requiring inhaled nitric oxide showed decreased fT(4) over the study time. Further research is warranted to determine whether T(4) supplementation would be beneficial in term and late preterm infants with respiratory distress.
Volume
20
Issue
2
First Page
189
Last Page
194
ISSN
1557-9077
Published In/Presented At
Paul, D. A., Mackley, A., & Yencha, E. M. (2010). Thyroid function in term and late preterm infants with respiratory distress in relation to severity of illness. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association, 20(2), 189–194. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2009.0012
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
20151826
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article