[Screening of newborn infants for hypothyroidism in Berlin (West) 1978-1982]

In July 1978 a neonatal screening program for congenital hypothyroidism was introduced in Berlin (West) covering more than 98% of the neonates born in the city area. Up to July 1982 TSH was determined on the fifth day of life in 74,350 newborns using a radioimmunoassay for TSH determination in dried blood spots. With a cut-off limit at 20 microU/ml, a control examination was necessary in 0.96% of the newborns. 32 infants with congenital hypothyroidism were detected and treated with 1-thyroxine, giving a total incidence of 1 in 2,323 newborns (permanent and transient cases). 63% of all newborns with elevated TSH levels (greater than 20 microU/ml) were born in the obstetric department of the Neukölln-Hospital, which uses PVP-Iodine for vaginal disinfection of the mothers during labor and delivery, especially after premature rupture of membranes. Those newborns had only transient TSH-elevations, which were normalized on the tenth day of life. The replacement therapy was started on the average on the ninth day of life. The symptoms present in the newborns with congenital hypothyroidism differed from patient to patient and from the "classical" signs of congenital hypothyroidism described in the literature. All infants detected by the screening program are followed in the outpatient department of the Children's Hospital of the Free University in Berlin and show a normal motor and mental development, except for two infants with other causes for retardation in psychomotor development.