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  • Title: Hyperthyrotropinemia at 2 weeks of age indicates thyroid dysfunction and predicts the occurrence of delayed elevation of thyrotropin in very low birth weight infants.
    Author: Niwa F, Kawai M, Kanazawa H, Iwanaga K, Matsukura T, Hasegawa T, Heike T.
    Journal: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf); 2012 Aug; 77(2):255-61. PubMed ID: 22168665.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: For preterm infants, transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity and transient primary hypothyroidism, especially with delayed elevation of serum thyrotropin (TSH), are important. METHODS: To address the above two issues, we performed thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests at about 2 weeks of age for 31 preterm infants with a gestational age of 30 weeks or less. RESULTS: For basal TSH levels, 68% of infants (21 of 31) showed normal values (TSH < 10 mU/l) and 32% of infants (10 of 31) showed higher values (four infants: TSH 10-15 mU/l, six infants: TSH > 15 mU/l). Peak TSH values in response to TRH stimulation tests ranged from 9·76 to 114·8 mU/l. All infants showed a significant response to TRH stimulation tests. Only 9·5% of infants (two of 21) with normal basal TSH values showed a hyperresponse (peak TSH > 45 mU/l), whereas 80% of infants (eight of 10) who had higher basal TSH values showed a hyperresponse. All infants who showed mildly elevated basal TSH values (TSH 10-15 mU/l) and a hyperresponse to TRH stimulation tests showed delayed elevation of basal TSH values (TSH > 15 mU/l) later. CONCLUSIONS: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation tests at about 2 weeks of age suggested that the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis might be established even in extremely premature infants. Basal increased TSH levels (TSH > 10 mU/l) and a hyperresponse to TRH stimulation tests (peak TSH > 45 mU/l) suggested subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Serum TSH values at about 2 weeks of age could be useful for the prediction of delayed TSH elevation.
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