0000000000018609
AUTHOR
W. Gempp
Transient hypothyroidism associated with prematurity, sepsis, and respiratory distress.
Serial TSH and T4 determinations were performed in sixty neonates admitted to our hospital for neonatal intensive care within a period of three months. Seven patients (12%) showed transient hypothyroidism on the basis of low T4 and high TSH values. Only one of these patients, who had meconium aspiration and pneumonia, did not have the respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, 4 of these patients had sepsis. All of the patients were born before 37 gestational weeks and had birth weights under 2200 g. In addition, two patients of this gestational age and birth weight group had a progressive fall of T4 to extremely hypothyroid values without simultaneous elevation of TSH. Two of the 5 patien…
Reduction of mortality rate in premature infants by substitution of thyroid hormones.
Our previous examinations had shown that 9 of 13 premature infants with severe respiratory distress had hypothyroid T4-values. On the basis of these results a prospective study was initiated. Every second neonate born after less than 37 weeks gestation or weighing less than 2200 g and admitted to our intensive care unit since Janary 1979 received a prophylactic dose of 25 μg l-Thyroxine and 5 μg Tri-iodothyronine daily. Five of the patients inadvertently did not receive the drug and were included in the non-treated group which thus numbered 55. Both groups were nearly identical with regard to gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score. In the treated group of 45 infants three (=6.6%) die…
Massive digoxin intoxication in childhood.
In a 10 year old boy 8 hours after taking about 16 mg beta-acetyl-digoxin a maximum serum digoxin level of 31.8 ng/ml was measured radioimmunologically. This is the highest digitalis level in childhood described to date. The serum potassium level rose to 7.4 mmol/l. Complete atrio-ventricular block, and salves of ventricular premature beats were the most serious rhythm disturbances. The absence of life threatening rhythm disturbances is attributed to the early use of diphenylhydantoin in small frequent doses.