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Association between Thyroid Function and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Infants

Yonghyuk Kim1, Youngjin Kim1, Meayoung Chang2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, 20, Ilsan-ro, Wonju-si 26426, Korea.

Pediatric Reports
|November 22, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in preterm infants shortly after birth are linked to a higher risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This suggests impaired thyroid function contributes to RDS and surfactant deficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Endocrinology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Thyroid hormones are crucial for pulmonary surfactant production and secretion.
  • Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common complication in preterm infants.
  • The precise relationship between thyroid hormones and RDS requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between thyroid hormone levels and the incidence of RDS in preterm infants.
  • To determine if thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are predictive of RDS development.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 146 preterm infants (24–33 weeks gestational age).
  • Measurement of T3, free T4 (fT4), and TSH at 1, 3, and 6 weeks post-birth.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between RDS and TSH levels.

Main Results:

  • Infants with RDS exhibited lower T3 and TSH levels on the day of birth compared to those without RDS (p < 0.05).
  • Lower serum TSH levels immediately after birth were significantly associated with a higher incidence of RDS (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81–0.97).

Conclusions:

  • TSH levels are associated with the incidence of RDS in preterm infants.
  • Suppression of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis function may contribute to RDS development.
  • This suggests a role for thyroid hormone regulation in preventing surfactant deficiency and RDS.

Keywords:
preterm infantsrespiratory distress syndrome (RDS)thyroid hormonethyroid-stimulating hormonethyrotropin

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