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Thyroid system immaturities in very low birth weight premature infants

Delbert A Fisher1

  • 1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, USA. fisherd1@cox.net

Seminars in Perinatology
|November 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Transient hypothyroxinemia of premature infants (THOP) is linked to lower IQ and neurological issues in very low birth weight infants. This review examines thyroid system development and immaturities contributing to THOP.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Premature infant survival has increased due to medical advances.
  • Very low birth weight infants face organ immaturities and neonatal morbidities impacting neurodevelopment.
  • Thyroid hormones are crucial for central nervous system development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review normal fetal thyroid system development.
  • To examine system immaturities contributing to transient hypothyroxinemia of premature infants (THOP).
  • To explore factors predisposing to nonthyroidal illness in very low birth weight infants.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on fetal thyroid development.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to THOP.
  • Examination of the nonthyroidal illness syndrome in premature infants.

Main Results:

  • Thyroid system immaturities and nonthyroidal illness syndrome contribute to THOP.
  • THOP is correlated with lower IQ and neurological sequelae in survivors.
  • Evidence suggests thyroid hormone supplementation may improve outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding thyroid system development and immaturities is key to addressing THOP.
  • THOP poses risks to neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants.
  • Further research into thyroid hormone supplementation is warranted.

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