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Neonatal screening for hypothyroidism in Greece
Insights
Greece screened 75,879 newborns for congenital hypothyroidism using thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) tests. This newborn screening detected 18 cases, revealing an incidence of 1:4200, and initiated early treatment.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal screening
- Public health
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common preventable cause of intellectual disability.
- Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent developmental deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the initial year's experience with a statewide newborn screening program for CH in Greece.
- To determine the incidence of CH in the screened population.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on dried blood spots.
- Screening of 75,879 newborns within the first 5 days of life.
Main Results:
- Eighteen cases of primary CH were identified with serum TSH levels > 100 microIU/ml.
- The incidence of CH was determined to be 1:4200.
- One case was clinically diagnosed prior to screening.
Conclusions:
- The implemented screening program effectively identified cases of CH.
- Early initiation of replacement therapy, between 22 and 50 days of life, was achieved.
Abstract:
One year's experience in screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Greece is reported. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) determination by a radioimmunoassay on dried blood spots was selected as the screening method. During the first year of screening 75,879 newborn infants were tested from Guthrie blood spots taken on the 5th day of life. Eighteen cases of primary congenital hypothyroidism with serum TSH levels over 100 microIU/ml were detected, giving an incidence of 1: 4200. One case had already been diagnosed clinically. Replacement treatment was started between the 22nd and the 50th days of life.