A Study of impact of perinatal asphyxia on thyroid hormone levels in newborns admitted in NICU, Al Galaa teaching hospital

الملخص EN

Introduction : perinatal asphyxia causes multiple alterations in the fetus and newborn due to failure in the gas exchange system.

perinatal asphyxia also triggers rapid alterations in the concentration of several hormones.

we compare serum concentration of thyroid hormones and TSH of term newborns with and without asphyxia.

also investigate the association between the severity and mortality of HIE and alterations in thyroid hormone levels.

we measured cord blood samples and arterial blood samples (18-24) hrs after birth for thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4, FT3, FT4) in 20 normal infants and 30 infants who were delivered in El Galaa teaching hospital and admitted in NICU with asphyxia and developed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

results : the study revealed that serum concentrations of TSH, T4, T3, FT3 and FT4 are lower in asphyxiated newborns than in normal newborns between 18 and 24 hours of life ; this suggests central hypothyroidism secondary to asphyxia.

conclusions : the asphyxiated term newborn infants present altered TSH and thyroid hormone levels.