Somatosensory evoked potentials in very preterm infants in relation to L-thyroxine supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of L-thyroxine supplementation on neurologic maturation in very preterm infants with transient hypothyroxinemia.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, L-thyroxine supplementation trial.


METHODS
Level III neonatal intensive care unit.


METHODS
A total of 200 infants <30 weeks' gestational age.


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to receive L-thyroxine (8 microg/kg birth weight per day) or a placebo during the first 6 weeks of life.


METHODS
Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded, measuring cortical N1 peak latency at 2 weeks of age, at term, and at 6 months (corrected) age.


RESULTS
Cortical N1 peak latency was not decreased significantly in the L-thyroxine group compared with the placebo group throughout the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
L-Thyroxine supplementation during the first 6 weeks of life did not decrease cortical N1 peak latency in infants of <30 weeks' gestational age.
Smit
B J
BJ
Department of Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kok
J H
JH
de Vries
L S
LS
van Wassenaer
A G
AG
Dekker
F W
FW
Ongerboer de Visser
B W
BW
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013974:Thyroxine