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Hypothyroidism in the newborn period.
Ari J Wassner1, Rosalind S Brown
1Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity
|August 27, 2013
Summary
Congenital hypothyroidism incidence is rising, especially mild cases, due to enhanced newborn screening. Research continues on novel causes and optimal levothyroxine treatment for infants, particularly preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) diagnosis and management are evolving.
- Preterm infants present unique challenges in thyroid screening and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in CH epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment.
- To highlight thyroid dysfunction specific to preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on congenital hypothyroidism.
- Focus on epidemiological trends, underlying mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Increasing CH incidence, largely due to stricter newborn screening protocols.
- Identification of novel genetic causes and increased understanding of transient hypothyroidism in preterm infants.
- Transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity is common, linked to inflammation, but treatment benefits remain unclear.
Conclusions:
- Newborn screening identifies more thyroid abnormalities of uncertain significance.
- Ongoing research into novel CH causes and refined levothyroxine therapy is crucial.
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