Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism: a retrospective hospital based study from Bahrain.
BACKGROUND
Neonatal screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) are now widespread in developed countries.


OBJECTIVE
Cord blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was evaluated for the incidence of CH in Bahrain Defense Force hospital.


METHODS
Those neonates with cord blood TSH values >25 mU/l were recalled. Permanent CH was reported when the levels of TSH and free T4 (fT4) venous blood samples were > or =15 mUl and <12 pmol/l, respectively, with abnormal thyroid scan.


RESULTS
Of 714 recalled newborns, 23 (10 males and 13 females) were diagnosed with transient TSH elevation with an estimated incidence of 1:774 births and 6 (3 males and 3 females) were diagnosed with permanent CH with an overall estimated incidence of 1:2,967 births.


CONCLUSIONS
High incidence rates for CH reported in this hospital-based study suggest the need for a national screening program for this congenital endocrine disorder in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Golbahar
Jamal
J
Al-Jawhara Centre for Neonatal Screening and Genetic Diagnosis and Research, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, AGU, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. jamalgo@agu.edu.bh
Al-Khayyat
Haya
H
Hassan
Babiker
B
Agab
Wahid
W
Hassan
Essa
E
Darwish
Abdulla
A
D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin