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Serum free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone levels in preterm infants and relationship between these levels and respiratory distress syndrome
Author(s) -
TANAKA KYOKO,
SHIMIZU TOSHIAKI,
HOSAKA ATSUTO,
TOKITA AKIFUMI,
SHIGA SEIGO,
YAMASHIRO YUICHIRO
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.2007.02390.x
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory distress , gestation , incidence (geometry) , thyroid stimulating hormone , gestational age , hormone , apgar score , birth weight , thyroid , endocrinology , low birth weight , pediatrics , pregnancy , physics , anesthesia , biology , optics , genetics
Background: There have been few studies of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) surge in extremely low‐birthweight (ELBW) infants, and the relationship between thyroid hormones and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has yet to be clarified. The present study sought to determine the serum levels of free T4 (fT4) and TSH in ELBW infants and to examine the relationship between these levels and the development of RDS. Methods: The authors measured serum fT4 and TSH levels soon after birth in 449 preterm infants, who were born at 22–36 weeks of gestation, and determined the associations between these levels, the incidence of RDS, and the recognized clinical factors associated with RDS. Results: Serum fT4 and TSH levels, and the fT4/TSH ratio, in the group at 22–24 weeks of gestation were significantly lower than those in the group at 28–36 weeks. The levels and ratio increased significantly with increasing gestational age. There were significant correlations between the serum fT4 level and the birthweight, Apgar score, and gender, and between the serum TSH level and the gestational age, mode of delivery, and birthweight. No significant relationship between the incidence of RDS and the serum levels of fT4 and TSH was observed. Conclusion: The authors’ results suggest that the serum levels of fT4 and TSH in ELBW infants are very low, and that these levels are not correlated with the occurrence of RDS.