Necrotizing enterocolitis and hypothyroidism in a newborn infant: treatment with intravenous L-thyroxine.
Gastrointestinal complications of hypothyroidism are well documented and include constipation, obstipation, and abdominal distention, as well as ileus, pseudo-obstruction, tumor-like mass of the intestine, and megacolon. We report herein on a 2-week-old, full-term female infant, who had both necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and congenital hypothyroidism. We further describe the response to therapy with intravenous L-thyroxine. To our knowledge, the patient's course is the first report of intravenous L-thyroxine in the management of congenital hypothyroidism when oral replacement is not an option. The possible causal relationship between NEC and hypothyroidism is discussed.
Amer
T
T
Department of Pediatrics (Endocrinology), New York University Medical Center, New York 10016.
David
R
R
Oberfield
S E
SE
D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013974:Thyroxine