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Updated: May 25, 2026
An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
Normal thyroid function in young adults who were born very preterm
Terezka S Mollee1, Martijn J J Finken, Mirjam M van Weissenbruch
1Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Young adults born preterm exhibit normal thyroid function, with slightly elevated free thyroxine (fT4) but typical thyrotropin (TSH) levels. This study followed individuals born before 32 weeks gestation into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Previous studies suggest potential thyrotropin (TSH) elevation in preterm infants.
- Longitudinal data on thyroid function in adults born preterm are scarce.
- Understanding long-term endocrine outcomes for preterm birth is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate thyroid function in young adults born preterm.
- To compare thyroid function between preterm infants born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) with controls.
- To assess serum concentrations of TSH and free thyroxine (fT4) at age 21.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study measuring TSH, fT4, and body composition.
- Participants included young adults born preterm (AGA, n=29; SGA, n=28) and non-preterm controls (n=30).
- Measurements were taken at 21 years of age.
Main Results:
- All participants had TSH and fT4 concentrations within normal ranges.
- Preterm-born subjects showed slightly higher free T4 levels compared to controls (p=0.04).
- No significant differences in TSH concentrations were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Young adults born preterm demonstrate normal overall thyroid function.
- Slightly elevated fT4 in preterm-born young adults warrants further investigation.
- Preterm birth does not appear to cause lasting thyroid dysfunction by early adulthood.
Abstract:
There is some evidence for elevated thyrotropin (TSH) levels in children born preterm, but follow-up studies into adulthood are lacking. We tested whether thyroid function in young adults born at a gestational age < 32 weeks, with either an appropriate (appropriate for gestational age, AGA) or low birth weight for gestational age (small for gestational age, SGA), differed from that in age-matched controls. We made our measurements when the study participants reached 21 years of age. Serum concentrations of TSH and free T4 (fT4) and body composition were measured in subjects born preterm and AGA (n = 29) or SGA (n = 28), and in non-preterm controls (n = 30). The TSH and fT4 concentrations of participants were within normal limits. Free T4 levels in subjects born preterm were slightly higher than those in controls: 17.0 +/- 2.4 (AGA) and 17.2 +/- 1.7 (SGA) vs. 16.1 +/- 1.9 pmo/L (p = 0.04). TSH concentrations did not differ between groups. From these preliminary data, we conclude that young adults born preterm have a normal thyroid function.
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