title: Increased mortality in neonates with low thyroxine values.
abstract: Serum thyroxine values were determined prospectively over a 6-month interval in 97 newborn infants with birth weight < 2200 gm or gestational age < 37 weeks. There were 89 survivors and 8 deaths. Infants with thyroxine values of < 2.5 micrograms/dl (32.2 nmol/L) had a significantly higher mortality rate (p < 0.001) compared with infants with higher thyroxine levels. In neonates there may exist a critical thyroxine value below which there is an increased risk of mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine 29203.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: McKeown
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bowyer
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine