Affiliation:
1. SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ANKARA ŞEHİR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and clinical outcomes in preterm, small for gestational age (SGA) infants.
Materials and Methods: The premature newborns (gestational age of ≤30 weeks) were divided into two groups as SGA and non-SGA. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels, the frequency of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), demographic and clinical characteristics, morbidity and mortality rate were compared between the groups.
Results: A total of 430 premature newborns, 72 in the SGA group and 358 in the non-SGA group were included. The frequency of CH, morbidity, demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between two groups. The mortality rate was higher in SGA (36.1%) than in non-SGA group (13.6%). Serum fT4 level was lower in SGA group (1.04±0.30 ng/dl) compared to the non-SGA group (1.24±0.33 ng/dl). The serum TSH level was higher in SGA group (9.91 ± 5.6 uIU/L) than in non-SGA group (6.6 ± 5.2 uIU/L).
Conclusion: The frequency of thyroid dysfunction was higher in preterm SGA infants compared to non-SGA, which was due to transiently high TSH and low fT4 concentrations. Therefore, thyroid function tests should be monitored periodically in preterm and SGA infants.
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,General Environmental Science