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Published on: February 18, 2012
[Investigation of influencing factors and reference ranges for thyroid function in hospitalized preterm infants at
1Department of Pediatrics, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100070, China.
Insights
Thyroid function in preterm infants at 7 days is influenced by gestational age and birth weight. Establishing specific reference ranges based on these factors can prevent unnecessary clinical interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal endocrinology
- Pediatric thyroid function
- Premature infant health
Context:
- Thyroid dysfunction is common in preterm infants, necessitating accurate assessment.
- Established reference ranges for thyroid function in neonates are often insufficient for preterm populations.
- Identifying influencing factors is crucial for appropriate clinical management.
Purpose:
- To determine factors influencing thyroid function in preterm infants at 7 days of life.
- To establish specific reference ranges for thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4, TSH) in preterm infants.
- To reduce unnecessary clinical re-examinations and interventions by providing accurate reference data.
Summary:
- A retrospective analysis of 685 preterm infants identified gestational age, birth weight, birth season, sex, and assisted reproduction as significant factors affecting thyroid function.
- Distinct 95% reference ranges for FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4, and TSH were calculated for high-risk (<34 weeks GA or <2000g BW) and low-risk (≥34 weeks GA and ≥2000g BW) preterm infant groups.
- Thyroid hormone levels (FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4) positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight, while TSH negatively correlated with birth weight.
Impact:
- Provides crucial data for accurate interpretation of thyroid function tests in preterm infants.
- Enables the development of tailored clinical guidelines for preterm neonates.
- Aims to improve patient outcomes by optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, reducing healthcare costs associated with unnecessary tests.
Objectives:
To investigate the influencing factors and reference ranges for thyroid function in preterm infants at the age of 7 days, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary clinical reexamination and intervention.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 685 preterm infants from January 2020 to January 2023. According to gestational age and birth weight, they were divided into a high-risk group (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight<2 000 g; 228 infants) and a low-risk group (gestational age ≥34 weeks and birth weight ≥2 000 g;457 infants). The influencing factors for thyroid function were analyzed, and 95% reference range was calculated.
Results:
Gestational age, birth weight, birth season, sex, and assisted reproduction were the influencing factors for thyroid function (P<0.05). For the preterm infants in the high-risk group, the reference ranges of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were 2.79-5.40 pmol/L, 8.80-25.64 pmol/L, 0.80-2.15 nmol/L, 50.06-165.09 nmol/L, and 0.80-18.57 μIU/mL, respectively. For those in the low-risk group, the reference ranges of these indicators were 3.08-5.93 pmol/L, 11.17-26.24 pmol/L, 1.02-2.27 nmol/L, 62.90-168.95 nmol/L, and 0.69-13.70 μIU/mL, respectively. FT3, FT4, TT3, and TT4 were positively correlated with gestational age (P<0.05); FT3, FT4, TT3, and TT4 were positively correlated with birth weight (P<0.05); TSH was negatively correlated with birth weight (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Thyroid function in preterm infants at the age of 7 days is affected by the factors such as gestational age and birth weight, and the reference ranges of thyroid function in preterm infants at the age of 7 days should be established based on gestational age and birth weight.
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