Differential effect of fetal, neonatal and treatment variables on neurodevelopment in infants with congenital hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the influence of fetal, neonatal and treatment variables on neurodevelopment in children with congenital hypothyroidism.


METHODS
A multiple regression analysis was performed in the neurodevelopmental scores of 26 children with CH who were assessed at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months for postural control, fine eye-hand coordination and language. The independent variables were: duration of fetal hypothyroidism, initial biochemical severity, days at starting treatment, initial dose, and efficiency of treatment.


RESULTS
Postural control was predicted by duration of fetal hypothyroidism and language by the biochemical severity of the disease at birth. Fine eye-hand coordination was not predicted by any variable.


CONCLUSIONS
This pattern of influences suggests that fetal and neonatal hypothyroidism have different effects on brain maturation sites during the first 2 years of life and that some subtle neurocognitive deficits are probably unavoidable.
Alvarez
M
M
Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Havana, Cuba. malv@infomed.sld.cu
Carvajal
F
F
Renón
A
A
Pérez
C
C
Olivares
A
A
Rodríguez
G
G
Alvarez
V
V
D002657:Child Development; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013974:Thyroxine