Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2023)

Background: The promotion of early foetal tissue growth and development is facilitated by thyroid hormones. This study sought to examine if instances of the existing screening programme would miss cases of congenital hypothyroidism as well as to identify delayed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) increase with gestational age in preterm neonates (33 weeks) at age one month.

Methods: In this prospective study, 50 preterm neonates with gestational ages between 33 weeks and less than ≤1.8 kg were included. They were split into two equal groups: Group 1 contained low birth weight (LBW) infants, defined as those weighing less than 1.8 kg at delivery (1.5:1.8 kg). Baby born with a very low birth weight (VLBW) of less than 1.5 kg is in group 2. During the first week after birth and again at one month, free thyroxine hormone (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and TSH were collected as part of a routine screening programme.

Results: TSH levels increased in both groups at one month, with Group II having a greater TSH than the other. The relationship between TSH at one month and birth weight in the two study groups was significantly unfavourable. The level of FT4 and FT3 at birth and one month were substantially different across groups for APGAR1, APGAR 2, and other measurements.

Conclusions: Thyroid issues are common in preterm babies with a gestational age of 33 weeks and birth weight of 1800 grammes. When thyroid dysfunction was present, the majority of patients exhibited CH and delayed TSH rise, which newborn blood spot screening was unable to identify (NBS).