Normative Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Values for Healthy Nigerian Newborns

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Neonatal Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital hypothyroidism is a prevalent global endocrine disorder.
• Sub-Saharan African countries lack nationwide screening programs for this condition.
• Establishing normative TSH values for Nigerian newborns is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference values for cord and capillary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy Nigerian newborns.
• To provide baseline data for potential congenital hypothyroidism screening initiatives in Nigeria.
• To analyze factors influencing TSH levels in neonates.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 2,014 healthy Nigerian newborns across 6 university hospitals.
• Analysis of cord and heel blood samples for TSH using AutoDelfia immunoassay.
• Statistical analysis to determine mean TSH levels and their association with sex, birthweight, socioeconomic status, and birth city.

Main Results:

• The mean TSH value was 1.86 μIU/ml, with 98.1% of newborns falling within the 0.09-7.90 μIU/ml range.
• Cord blood samples showed slightly higher TSH ranges compared to heel blood samples.
• TSH levels were not significantly influenced by gender, birthweight, or socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

• The study provides crucial normative reference values for capillary and cord TSH in Nigerian newborns.
• These data support the development of targeted screening strategies for congenital hypothyroidism in the region.
• Regional variations in TSH were noted, potentially due to sampling timing.