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Newborn Screening TSH Values Less Than 15 mIU/L Are Not Associated With Long-term Hypothyroidism or Cognitive Impairment.
- Source :
- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; Sep2020, Vol. 105 Issue 9, p1-10, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>It is unclear whether newborns with mild thyrotropin elevation (mTSHe) are at risk of neurocognitive impairment. We assessed whether mTSHe at birth persists during childhood and compared neurocognitive functioning to siblings.<bold>Methods: </bold>This study encompassed children born in the Auckland region (New Zealand) with a newborn screen TSH level of 8 to 14 mIU/L blood, age 6.9 to 12.6 years at assessment, and their siblings. Thyroid function tests (serum TSH and free thyroxine) and neurocognitive assessments were performed, including IQ via the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition.<bold>Results: </bold>Ninety-six mTSHe individuals were studied, including 67 children recruited with 75 sibling controls. Mean mTSHe newborn TSH level was 10.1 mIU/L blood and 2.4 mIU/L at assessment (range, 0.8-7.0 mIU/L, serum). Although higher newborn TSH levels in the mTSHe group correlated with lower full-scale IQ scores (r = 0.25; P = .040), they were not associated with the magnitude of the IQ difference within sibling pairs (P = .56). Cognitive scores were similar for mTSHe and controls (full-scale IQ 107 vs 109; P = .36), with a minor isolated difference in motor coordination scores.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Our data do not suggest long-term negative effects of neonatal mild TSH elevation. TSH elevation below the screen threshold appears largely transient, and midchildhood neurocognitive performance of these children was similar to their siblings. We propose that associations between neonatal mild TSH elevation and IQ are due to familial confounders. We caution against the practice of reducing screening CH cutoffs to levels at which the diagnosis may not offer long-term benefit for those detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- NEWBORN screening
COGNITION disorders
WECHSLER Intelligence Scale for Children
HYPOTHYROIDISM
COMPREHENSION in children
TWINS
THYROID hormone regulation
THYROTROPIN
REFERENCE values
THYROID gland function tests
RESEARCH
THYROID hormones
RESEARCH methodology
CASE-control method
PROGNOSIS
EVALUATION research
MEDICAL cooperation
COMPARATIVE studies
AGE factors in disease
CONGENITAL hypothyroidism
LONGITUDINAL method
DISEASE complications
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0021972X
- Volume :
- 105
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 145448679
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa415