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Does Hypothyroxinemia of Preterm Neonates Persist Beyond 7 weeks of Life?

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Abstract

Objectives

To determine whether hypothyroxinemia in the early neonatal period normalizes by 7 wk of postnatal age.

Methods

An observational study was carried out from July 2008 through June 2010 in the neonatal and postnatal unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. A total of 150 neonates including 100 preterm and 50 term neonates were selected by convenient sampling. Preterm neonates were stratified according to postconceptional age. By the 3rd generation two site chemiluminesent immunometric assay, free T4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) estimations were done. Within 5–11 d, first samples were collected from all the neonates and the second samples of hypothroxinemic preterm neonates were collected within 42–50 d of birth.

Results

Positive correlation of FT4 was found with gestational age (p < 0.0001, n = 100, r = 0.61) in preterm neonates while significant difference was found among the gestational age subgroups (p = 0.0001). No significant differences were, however, found in TSH levels of such age groups of the preterms. Highly significant differences in FT4 and TSH levels between 1st and 2nd samples were found in subgroup analysis of the preterm neonates. In the 1st samples, TSH level correlated positively with gestational age but in the 2nd samples, significant negative correlation was observed. In all neonates with initial hypothyroxinemia, FT4 levels were found to increase to reach the normal levels by 7 wk.

Conclusions

FT4 level normalizes by 7 wk of birth in preterm newborn neonates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Dr. Shimita Shome. the then MD (Thesis part) student for helping in sample and report collection and Dr. Jagadish Chandra Das, Professor of Neonatology, for constructive criticism and overall supervision of data collection procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Southern Medical College & Hospital, Southern Medical College Road, East Nasirabad, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh

    Jhulan Das Sharma

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Doctor MR Khan Shishu Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    M. F. H. Nazir

  3. Department of Zoology, Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

    Abdul Gofur Khan & Baharul Hoque

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  1. Jhulan Das Sharma
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  2. M. F. H. Nazir
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  3. Abdul Gofur Khan
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  4. Baharul Hoque
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Contributions

JDS: Conceptualized and designed the study, designed research instrument, participated in data collection. He drafted the initial manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; MFHN, AGK and BH: Conceptualized the study; reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. He also guided and supervised the study. JDS will act as guarantor for this article.

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Correspondence to Jhulan Das Sharma.

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Sharma, J.D., Nazir, M.F.H., Khan, A.G. et al. Does Hypothyroxinemia of Preterm Neonates Persist Beyond 7 weeks of Life?. Indian J Pediatr 86, 686–691 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-019-02935-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-019-02935-2

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