Related Experiment Videos
Intra-amniotic thyroxine (T4) absorption by the premature human foetus
Acta Endocrinologica
|February 1, 1979
Summary
Intra-amniotic thyroxine (T4) injections in premature infants accelerate fetal lung maturity. The fetal absorption of T4 is confirmed, resulting in a transient increase in thyroid hormone levels without affecting the natural postnatal T4 surge.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Thyroid hormone (T4) plays a crucial role in fetal development, particularly lung maturation.
- Premature birth often leads to respiratory distress due to immature lungs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fetal absorption and effects of intra-amniotic thyroxine (T4) administration in accelerating human fetal lung maturity.
- To assess the impact of intra-amniotic T4 on cord serum T4 concentrations and the postnatal T4 surge.
Main Methods:
- Intra-amniotic injection of 250 micrograms of T4 in premature pregnancies.
- Measurement of cord serum T4 concentrations 24 hours post-injection and at 12 hours postpartum.
- Comparison of T4 levels between treated and control groups of premature newborns.
Main Results:
- Mean cord serum T4 concentration was significantly higher (17 +/- 2.1 microgram/100 ml) 24 hours after intra-amniotic T4 injection compared to controls (11.6 +/- 0.9 microgram/100 ml).
- Postpartum T4 levels in a subset of infants showed a transient increase after intra-amniotic T4.
- No significant difference in cord serum T4 was observed in infants delivered more than 3 days after injection.
- Maternal T4 concentrations remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Intra-amniotic T4 is absorbed by the premature human fetus.
- The induced hyperthyroxinemia is transient and does not interfere with the normal postnatal surge of T4.
- Intra-amniotic T4 administration shows potential for accelerating fetal lung maturity in premature infants.