Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025
An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
A hypothyroid mother after subtotal thyroidectomy delivered a newborn with hyperthyroidism from fetal stage: a case
Cheng Peng1, Weijie Sun2, Lixin Fan2
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
Background:
Neonatal hyperthyroidism is an extension of fetal disease. Most cases of neonatal hyperthyroidism are transient but may excessively harm multiple organ functions through the actions of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies on the neonatal thyroid gland.
Case Presentation:
The hyperthyroid mother underwent subtotal thyroidectomy before pregnancy and regularly took levothyroxine to avoid hypothyroidism, but still had a high-level thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb). The neonate suffered from hyperthyroidism due to the transplacental TRAb. After a regular medication schedule of an antithyroid drug, combined with a β-blocker to control the ventricular rate, the infant gradually recovered, allowing normal motor and intellectual development.
Conclusions:
Maternal subtotal thyroidectomy cannot prevent the secretion of thyroid receptor antibodies, which may cause either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The balance between antithyroid drugs and levothyroxine is critical in clinical practice.
