title: Theophylline treatment in the neonate with apnea: effect on growth hormone, thyroid hormone and TRH induced TSH secretion.
abstract: Caffeine has been shown to markedly alter growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid hormones in animal studies. Similar studies in the human are lacking. To determine the effect of theophylline treatment on endocrine function in neonates with apnea, 10 infants were studied prospectively pretreatment, immediately following therapeutic blood levels of theophylline, at 2, 4, and 6 weeks thereafter and finally 2 weeks after discontinuation of theophylline. T4, free T4, T3, GH, and basal and stimulated TSH were measured at each study period. Results show no significant difference consequent to theophylline therapy on basal thyroid or GH secretion and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induced TSH response at any study interval. We conclude there is no evidence to suspect abnormality occurring in growth, thyroid function and GH secretion in neonates receiving theophylline for breathing disorders.
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013806:Theophylline; D013974:Thyroxine