Transient neonatal hypothyroidism: neurological and intellectual features in children aged 5-7 years

Abstract

The paper evaluates the perinatal period of the mental, intellectual, and neurological status of children with prior transient neonatal hypothyroidism (TNH). The study involved 60 children aged 5-7years who had been born in Moscow; they had thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) levels of 20 m U/I. In 56 children of them, spontaneous normalization of TSH levels occurred following 1-6 months by the moment of retesting. Four children in whom no normalization occurred by the moment of serum testing received levothyroxine therapy for 5 months to 4.5 years. A control group comprised 25 children who were parity by all signs and had normal TSH levels at birth. Examination of children included the assessment of their obstetric histories, neonatal TSH, the estimation of the neurological and psychointellectual development at the age of 5-7years. The results have indicated that the children with prior TNH have neurological and psychointellectual features (speech disorders, diminished intellectual operations that characterize logic and image thinking) that may exert a negative impact on the subsequent development of a child and lead to social disadaptation, which makes it necessary to follow up this group of children.