SUMMARYThyroglobulin (Tg) is secreted only by the thyroid gland and its presence in serum should therefore indicate the presence of functioning thyroid tissue. We have measured Tg in cord and heelprick serum samples from 230 newborn infants with no thyroid disease and in forty‐seven infants with suspected neonatal hypothyroidism. In the euthyroid group, well full‐term infants showed an increase in Tg post‐natally which was not seen in ill full‐term or pre‐term neonates. Thyroid hormones were lower and TSH higher in the ill and pre‐term groups, which, in conjunction with the lack of increase in Tg, suggests impaired thyroid secretion in these groups.Of the forty‐seven hypothyroid infants (low T4 with raised TSH) thirty‐five had measurable Tg; twenty‐eight of these had thyroid scans, and twenty‐seven showed the presence of thyroid tissue. Of twelve infants without measurable Tg seven were scanned; four showed no thyroid uptake, in the other three thyroid tissue was demonstrable; two of these had a positive family history of goitrous hypothyroidism.It appears that many infants with biochemical hypothyroidism (low T4 and high TSH) have functioning thyroid tissue (measurable Tg and positive scan). Adequate thyroid hormone replacement therapy should be instituted in all cases, but assessment of therapy at a later stage of childhood may establish whether the prognosis for the group with functioning thyroid tissue, especially for mental impairment, is different from those without demonstrable thyroid function.

Conference Abstract| March 01 1979 A System of Screening for Neonatal Hypothyroidism S. J. Bodden; S. J. Bodden 1Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar E. G. Black; E. G. Black 1Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar R. Hoffenberg R. Hoffenberg 1Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Clin Sci (Lond) (1979) 56 (3): 16P. https://doi.org/10.1042/cs056016Pa Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation S. J. Bodden, E. G. Black, R. Hoffenberg; A System of Screening for Neonatal Hypothyroidism. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 March 1979; 56 (3): 16P. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs056016Pa Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsClinical Science Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © 1979 The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society1979 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Se SMA (bioassay) and SMB (RI assay) have been measured in children with GH deficiency following IM injection of hGH and the response correlated with subsequent linear growth. 14 patients (9M, 5F) aged 6-20 yrs were given hGH 10 mgs IM and SMA & B monitored at intervals for 48 hrs after a first and 24 hrs after a second injection. Peak SMA & B values and times were unpredictable, varying between 3 and 48 hrs. The sum of increments for SMA & B were calculated and values greater than 50% above basal were taken as significant. Eight patients showed a positive SMA response and 10 a positive SMB response after the first injection but only 4 SMA & 2 SMB responses occurred after the second. Three patients failed to show an SMB increase after either, although SMA rose. No correlation between SMA & B increments was found, and no correlation was demonstrated with linear growth response to hGH.

Serum T4, T3 uptake, T3, basal TSH and TSH response to TRH were measured in 19 children aged 1-17 yrs with agoitrous hypothyroidism on thyroxine. Normal values were established using 15 well children aged 2-16 yrs with constitutional short stature.The pituitary-thyroid axis appeared to function normally in the hypothyroid children; the response to TRH was not influenced by the age of onset of hypothyroidism or duration of therapy. Δ TSH was the best single determinant of abnormal biochemical thyroid status, but the serum T4 and basal TSH used in combination were equally satisfactory providing the child was not suffering from intercurrent infection.Four children had normal TRH respons (Δ TSH 4-21 mU/L) 5 exaggerated (Δ TSH 50-1125 mU/L) and 10 suppressed responses (Δ TSH -1 to +1 mU/L). There was a poor correlation with the clinical impression of thyroid status, and with growth velocity and bone age.