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Zheng XT, Lin X, Ma M, Lai SH, Yang CY. Reference intervals for thyroid function from the fifth to seventh day of life in twin-pregnancy preterm neonates: an 8-year retrospective study. Hormones (Athens) 2024; 23:235-244. [PMID: 38564142 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-024-00547-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The immature and developing hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis leads to different levels of thyroid function in twin neonates, including free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. No reference intervals for twins have been established until now. To compensate for this lack, we collected data and established this standard across different gestational ages (GAs) and sexes. METHODS A total of 273 pairs of neonates admitted to the NICU in Southeast China from 2015 to 2022 were included. Each pair was divided into Neonate A (relatively heavy birth weight (BW)) and Neonate B (relatively light BW). Their thyroid functions were analyzed to establish reference intervals and comparisons were made stratified by GA and sex. RESULTS The FT3, FT4, and TSH reference intervals in twin neonates with a GA of 26-36 weeks were as follows: Neonate A and B: 3.59 ± 0.99 and 3.57 ± 1.00 pmol/L; Neonate A and B: 17.03 ± 5.16 and 16.77 ± 5.29 pmol/L; and Neonate A and B: 4.097 ± 3.688 and 4.674 ± 4.850 mlU/L, respectively. There were significant differences between serum FT3 and FT4 reference intervals and GA (p < 0.05). The serum FT3 and FT4 reference intervals for male neonates were lower than those for female neonates in the 29-32-week group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION This was the first study, to our knowledge, to establish reference intervals for thyroid function in twin neonates from the fifth to seventh day of life, which will be beneficial for the diagnosis and management of congenital hypothyroidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Ting Zheng
- Department of neonatology, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Daoshan Road 18th, Gulou Strict, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, 350001, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of neonatology, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Daoshan Road 18th, Gulou Strict, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, 350001, China
| | - Mei Ma
- Department of clinical laboratory, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China
| | - Shu-Hua Lai
- Department of neonatology, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Daoshan Road 18th, Gulou Strict, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, 350001, China
| | - Chang-Yi Yang
- Department of neonatology, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Daoshan Road 18th, Gulou Strict, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, 350001, China.
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Feldt-Rasmussen U, Effraimidis G, Bliddal S, Klose M. Risks of suboptimal and excessive thyroid hormone replacement across ages. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:1083-1090. [PMID: 38015369 PMCID: PMC11035408 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02229-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypothyroidism is prevalent at all ages and represents a non-communicable disease with preventable consequences. METHOD Narrative review. REVIEW In children and adolescents, the most devastating consequences of undertreatment with levothyroxine (LT4) are poor growth and development. Delayed treatment in congenital hypothyroidism can lead to permanent brain damage. In young to middle-aged adults, symptoms are often overlooked, and treatment delayed by many years. The resulting consequences are also at this age group compromised brain and physical function but less severe and partly reversible with treatment. The under-treated condition often results in a higher risk of, e.g., increased cardiovascular disease burden, obesity, hypertension, poor physical capacity, and poor quality of life. Excessive replacement is at all adult age groups associated with increased risk of cardiac death, osteoporosis, loss of muscle function, psychological instability and poor quality of life. In young fertile women, the consequences of undertreatment with LT4 are subnormal fertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, compromised fetal growth, and neurocognitive development. On the other hand, excessive LT4 treatment has been related to gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and preterm birth. In the elderly, care must be given to avoid confusing a slightly high age-related serum TSH with requirement for LT4 treatment in a truly hypothyroid patient. Excessive LT4 treatment in patients of high age is associated with an increased mortality. CONCLUSION Suboptimal and excessive LT4 replacement of the preventable non-communicable disease hypothyroidism requires more focus from the healthcare system and from the global political systems to prevent the personally devastating and socioeconomically challenging consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Feldt-Rasmussen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Clinical Sciences, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism PE 2132, Rigshospitalet, National University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - G Effraimidis
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, Larissa, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - S Bliddal
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Klose
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lauffer P, Heinen CA, Goorsenberg AWM, Malekzadeh A, Henneman P, Heijboer AC, Zwaveling-Soonawala N, Boelen A, van Trotsenburg ASP. Analysis of Serum Free Thyroxine Concentrations in Healthy Term Neonates Underlines Need for Local and Laboratory-Specific Reference Interval: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data. Thyroid 2024; 34:559-565. [PMID: 38563802 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background: Initial evaluation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis is done by measuring serum free thyroxine (fT4) and thyrotropin concentrations. For correct interpretation of these measurements, reliable age-specific reference intervals (RIs) are fundamental. Since neonatal fT4 RIs conforming to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines are not available for all assays, we set out to create literature-based uniform age-specific neonatal fT4 RIs that may be used for every assay. Methods: For meta-analysis of individual participant fT4 concentrations, we systematically searched MEDLINE and Embase (search date December 6, 2023; PROSPERO registration CRD42016041871). We searched for studies reporting fT4 concentrations in healthy term newborns aged 2-27 days, born to mothers without thyroid disease in iodine-sufficient regions. Authors were invited to supply data. Due to standardization differences between assays, data could not be combined for meta-analysis directly, and we attempted to normalize the data using two distinct methods. Results: We obtained 4206 fT4 concentrations from 20 studies that used 13 different assays from 6 manufacturers. First, we set out to normalize fT4 data using the mean and standard deviation of (assay-specific) adult RIs. fT4 concentrations were transformed into Z-scores, assuming a normal distribution. Using a linear mixed-effects model (LMM), we still found a significant difference between fT4 concentration across studies (p < 0.001), after this normalization. As a second approach, we normalized the fT4 concentrations using data from a method/assay comparison study. We used the relationship between the Cobas assay and the other assays as a reference point to convert all values to Cobas values. However, this method also failed to produce consistent results, with significant differences between the normalized data (LMM p < 0.001). Conclusions: We conclude that our attempts at normalizing fT4 assay results were unsuccessful. Confounders related to our unsuccessful analysis may be assay related and/or biological. These findings have significant implications for patient care, since relying on RIs from literature may result in erroneous interpretation of results. Therefore, we strongly recommend to establish local RIs for accurate interpretation of serum fT4 concentrations in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lauffer
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A Heinen
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annika W M Goorsenberg
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Malekzadeh
- Medical Library, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke C Heijboer
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Endocrine Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Endocrine Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nitash Zwaveling-Soonawala
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anita Boelen
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Endocrine Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A S Paul van Trotsenburg
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Feldt-Rasmussen U, Effraimidis G, Bliddal S, Klose M. Consequences of undertreatment of hypothyroidism. Endocrine 2024; 84:301-308. [PMID: 37556077 PMCID: PMC11076368 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03460-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide an overview of consequences of undertreatment with levothyroxine (LT4) in the common non-communicable disease, hypothyroidism. METHODS Narrative review of the literature. RESULTS Hypothyroidism is globally very prevalent at all age groups and represents a non-communicable disease in which the risks and consequences are preventable. In children and adolescents, the most devastating consequences of undertreatment are poor growth and development. Lack of early treatment in congenital hypothyroidism can lead to permanent damage of brain function. In young to middle-aged adults, consequences are often overlooked, and treatment delayed by many years. The resulting consequences are also at this age group compromised brain and physical functioning but less severe and partly reversible with treatment. The undertreated condition often results in a higher risk of several secondary devastating diseases such as increased cardiovascular disease burden, obesity, hypertension, poor physical capacity, poor quality of life. In young women of fertile age the consequences of undertreatment with LT4 are subnormal fertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, compromised fetal growth and neurocognitive development. There is a further risk of 30-50% of developing postpartum thyroiditis. In the elderly population care must be given to avoid confusing a slightly high serum TSH as result of physiological age adaptation with a requirement for LT4 treatment in a truly hypothyroid patient. CONCLUSION Undertreatment of the preventable non-communicable disease hypothyroidism requires more focus both from caretakers in the healthcare system, but also from the global political systems in order to prevent the personally devastating and socioeconomically challenging consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Clinical Sciences, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Grigoris Effraimidis
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Sofie Bliddal
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marianne Klose
- Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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AL-MENDALAWI MD. Comment on "The Effects of Thyroid Hormone Levels on Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Newborns". Medeni Med J 2023; 38:296. [PMID: 38148728 PMCID: PMC10759940 DOI: 10.4274/mmj.galenos.2023.36724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
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