[The thyroid gland of the newborn infant and postnatal iodine overload]

Abstract

Severe iodine-induced hypothyroidism was recently diagnosed in several neonates raising the responsibility of the iodine antiseptic agents routinely used in these patients. Postnatal iodine overload due to cutaneous application of these agents (povidone iodine and fluorescinated alcoholic-iodine solution) was studied in 5 patients. Thyroid function studies were performed in iodine-overload neonates and in control neonates with comparable gestional age. Results indicated strong evidence of cutaneous absorption of iodine from the antiseptic agents used, leading to hypothyroidism in 12 of them. The frequency and the severity of thyroid dysfunction was closely related to the degree of prematurity. Full recovery was observed in all cases after withdrawal of the iodine-containing agents. It is therefore recommended to avoid any postnatal use of iodine preparations in neonates, mainly in preterm infants, and to use iodine antiseptic agents with great caution, when necessary during the neonatal period.