Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Jul;8(7):PC18-20.
doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/9058.4603. Epub 2014 Jul 20.

Cord Blood TSH Level Variations in Newborn - Experience from A Rural Centre in Southern India

Sunil Raj  1 , Stephenson Baburaj  2 , Jumaly George  3 , Binu Abraham  4 , Sundar Singh  5
Affiliations

Cord Blood TSH Level Variations in Newborn - Experience from A Rural Centre in Southern India

Sunil Raj et al. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Universal screening of all neonates has for long been recognized as the most effective method to detect congenital hypothyroidism. However, various maternal as well as perinatal factors can influence the cord blood TSH levels.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of perinatal factors on cord blood TSH level variations in neonates born in a rural tertiary care institution in South India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 430 term neonates at birth to analyse the cord blood TSH levels and a repeat TSH estimation was done on 3rd postnatal day for those having abnormal values. The values were statistically analysed with respect to maternal, paternal and perinatal parameters.

Results: The mean value of CBTSH was 12.88 mIU/mL. One hundred twenty five of the 430 neonates (29.06%) were found to have elevated CBTSH levels. Two babies (0.46%) had CBTSH levels below 2.3 mIU/mL. Repeat TSH estimation done on third postnatal day in the 127 babies who had abnormal CBTSH levels revealed only 5 (3.94%) babies had abnormal levels. Serum T4 levels done on the same sample showed abnormal values in 3 (2.67%) babies. CBTSH levels showed no gender varations but increased significantly with the gestational age of the baby (p=0.001). CBTSH levels increased with increasing maternal age (p<0.001) and were significantly higher in babies of mothers with history of hypothyroidism.

Conclusion: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism was 3 in 430 babies, which was high compared to national and international references, highlighting the urgent need of universal screening giving importance to maternal factors also.

Keywords: Congenital hypothyroidism; Newborn screening.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. MP Desai, MP Colaco, AR Ajgaonkar, CV Mahadik, FE Vas, W Rege, et al. Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in a developing country: problems and strategies. Indian J Pediatr. 1987;54:571–81. - PubMed
    1. MP Desai, P Upadhye, MP Colaco, M Mehre, SP Naik, FE Vaz, et al. Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism using the filter paper thyroxine technique. Indian J Med Res. 1994;100:36–42. - PubMed
    1. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism:recommended guidelines: American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Endocrinology and Committee on Genetics and American Thyroid Association Committee on Public Health. Pediatrics. 1993;91:1203–09. - PubMed
    1. D Nanayakkaral, A Wijekoon, N Jiffry, R Mudiyanse, J Nilam, K Perera, et al. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in government hospitals in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 2007;12:133–34.
    1. Y Fuse, E Wakae, Y Nemoto, N Uga, M Tanaka, M Maeda, et al. Influence of perinatal factors and sampling methods on TSH and thyroid hormone levels in cord blood. Endocrinol Japon. 1991;38:297–302. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources