Abstract
Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects approximately 1:3000–1:4000 infants.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of CH and isolated hyperthyrotropinemia (IHT) in newborns selected in mass screening for CH.
Methods: Mass screening of 233,120 neonates born in southeastern Poland was carried out and CH-suspected children were identified. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels were determined during first confirmation and diagnosis re-evaluation in 118 and 34 children, respectively. Additionally, the patients were subjected to thyroid ultrasonography (n=53) and/or scintiscan (n=28).
Results: Out of 118 children, first confirmation indicated CH in 58 neonates and IHT in 4 neonates. Out of these, 34 were re-evaluated with regard to diagnosis. A final diagnosis of permanent CH was reported in 34 children with thyroid dysgenesis (n=27) or dyshormonogenesis (n=7), transient CH affected 15 children, and permanent IHT was diagnosed in 6 children. CH prevalence was 1:4570 (permanent 1:6475, transient 1:38,853) and permanent IHT 1:38,853.
Conclusions: The prevalence of CH and IHT corresponds to the prevalence of the condition in iodine-sufficient and borderline iodine-deficient areas.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York