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Antenatal steroids and thyroid hormone function in preterm infants

Dinushan C Kaluarachchi1, Qianqian Zhao2, Tarah T Colaizy3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. kaluarachchi@pediatrics.wisc.edu.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|September 13, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal steroids (ANS) improve thyroid function in preterm infants. Infants not receiving complete ANS courses were more likely to experience thyroid dysfunction compared to those receiving complete courses.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antenatal steroids (ANS) are commonly administered to mothers at risk of preterm delivery.
  • Limited evidence exists regarding the impact of ANS on thyroid hormone function in preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of antenatal steroids on thyroid hormone function in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study including preterm infants born before 30 weeks gestation.
  • Infants categorized into no ANS, partial ANS, and complete ANS groups.
  • Comparison of thyroid function tests at day 30 of life.

Main Results:

  • A higher proportion of infants in the no ANS and partial ANS groups required levothyroxine (LT4) treatment compared to the complete ANS group.
  • Infants in the no ANS group showed a greater likelihood of elevated TSH levels (TSH > 6 μIU/mL) and LT4 initiation.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants exposed to no ANS are at a higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction compared to those who received a complete ANS course.
Abstract

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