Dopamine suppresses thyroid-stimulating hormone secretion in neonatal hypothyroidism.
The infusion of dopamine, a hypophysiotropic catecholamine, which inhibits release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), is the inotropic therapy of first choice in neonatal intensive care. Newborns with primary hypothyroidism are at increased risk of cardiocirculatory morbidity and are screened by measuring serum TSH concentrations. In an infant with both congenital heart disease and neonatal hypothyroidism, withdrawal of dopamine infusion was documented to evoke a doubling of serum TSH levels within 40 min, a finding suggestive of an inhibitory effect of dopamine administration on neonatal TSH hypersecretion. As a result, dopamine therapy may be a pitfall in TSH screening for neonatal hypothyroidism.
de Zegher
F
F
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Van den Bershe
G
G
Dumoulin
M
M
Gewillig
M
M
Daenen
W
W
Devlieger
H
H
D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D013972:Thyrotropin; D004298:Dopamine