The Frequency and Characteristics of Hypothyroidism Jaundice in Neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia; A Ten-Year Survey

Background & Aims: Congenital hypothyroidism is a serious disorder that could be treated if detected early. Jaundice is one of the symptoms of these neonates. However, the prevalence, clinical course and severity of jaundice are not yet well defined. We compared the clinical course and severity of jaundice in a case-controlstudy of congenital hypothyroidism and other neonates of unknown etiology who are yellow. Methods: The cross–sectional study was performed during ۲۰۰۲-۲۰۱۲ on ۲۷۸۰ four-day or older term neonates with jaundice. In addition to the usual procedures for diagnosis of jaundice, thyroid function was performed on ۷۰۶ newborns referred to the neonatal or clinic part of Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad, Iran, and their thyroid function was evaluated. The clinical progress and severity of jaundice infected with hypothyroidism [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) ≥ ۱۰ µu/ml or T۴ less than ۸ µg/dl] compared with infants with jaundice of unknown cause. Results: The neonates' mean age was ۱۶.۰۳ ± ۸.۸۰ and ۸.۶۰ ± ۶.۱۰ days (P = ۰.۰۰۱), age of onset of jaundice was ۴.۰۰ ± ۱.۶۰ and ۲.۶۸ ± ۱.۷۵ days (P = ۰.۰۰۸), total bilirubin was ۱۵.۷۰ ± ۵.۲۵ and ۲۱.۸۸ ± ۵.۱۰ mg/dl (P < ۰.۰۰۱), length of hospital stay was ۰.۸۰ ± ۱.۱۱ and ۳.۳۷ ± ۱.۷۱ days (P < ۰.۰۰۱), age of the jaundice improving was ۲۱.۰۰ ± ۱۵.۲۳ and ۴۹.۴۰ ± ۱۴.۶۰ days (P = ۰.۰۸۰), T۴ level was ۵.۸۰ ± ۲.۷۰ and ۹.۶۳ ± ۲.۲۶ µg/dl and TSH level was ۲۲.۵۶ ± ۱.۸۰ and ۳.۳۱ ± ۱.۶۹ µu/ml in groups of case and control, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, in infants presenting with jaundice, after the second week of life, evaluation of hypothyroid may be recommended.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hypothyroidism ، jaundice ، neonate ، bilirubin