Abstract
Aim: Congenital hypothyroidism is the most frequent reason of preventable mental-motor retardation if early diagnosed and treated. Early diagnosis can only be insured by neonatal screening programs. In this study we aimed to evaluate thyroid function tests in newborns who admitted to hospital before screening test was done routinely.
Method: The neonates born in or admitted to our hospital with any reason between January 2003-March 2006, were enrolled in this study. Maternal and neonatal data, physical findings of the newborns, the resuls of the thyroid function tests, etiologic investigation of the patients with congenital hypothyroidism were recorded.
Results: In 139 neonates (72 femele - 77 male) thyroid function tests were evaluated. Admission reasons were hyperbilirubinemia in 44 (31.7 %) and routine control in 95 (68.3 %) patients. Thyroid function tests had been measured between 4 to 45 postnatal days. Serum TSH levels were higher than 20 IU/L in 7 neonates, whereas in one, serum TSH level was in normal limits and serum Total T4 was low. Among these, 3 patients were diagnosed as congenital hypothyroidism. Etiological evaluation revealed central hypothyroidism and ectopic thyroid in two patients. In one patient etiology couldn't be clarified since his thyroid ultrasonography and scintigraphy were normal.
Conclusion: In this study that has been performed before screening program congenital hypothyroidism was detected in 2.l % of the patients. Although it is not a screening program and can not provide information about the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism, this study highlights the importance of neonatal screening
Keywords: Newborn, congenital hypothyroidism, screening programs
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