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Elimination kinetics of maternally derived thyrotropin receptor-blocking antibodies in a newborn with significant
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
Objective:
To determine the course of maternally derived elevations in thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulins in a neonate.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
University pediatric endocrinology clinic and endocrine immunology laboratory in Ohio.
Participants:
An infant with elevated thyrotropin levels but near-normal total thyroxine levels, and her mother.
Interventions:
None.
Measurements/Main Results:
Thyroid hormone, thyrotropin, and thyrotropin-blocking immunoglobulin concentrations were serially measured in a woman and her infant, who was found to have elevated thyrotropin levels (234 mU/L) and borderline low thyroxine levels (95 nmol/L). As infant thyroxine concentrations remained normal (125 to 145 nmol/L), no thyroxine supplementation was given. Thyrotropin levels decreased concomitantly with thyrotropin-blocking inhibitory immunoglobulin levels, and normalized by day 56 of life. The apparent elimination half-life of thyrotropin-blocking immunoglobulins was 7.5 days.
Conclusions:
The observed parallel elimination kinetics suggest that the thyrotropin receptor antibody acts as a thyrotropin antagonist, resulting in compensatory thyrotropin elevations. The duration of such elevations may be predicted on the basis of such elimination.