title: The role of maternal thyroid stimulating hormone receptor blocking antibodies in the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism in isfahan, iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the role of maternal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor blocking antibody (TRAb) in the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), this study aimed to determine TRAb among patients with CH in Isfahan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, patients with CH and their mothers were compared with a group of healthy neonates and their mothers. Venous blood samples were obtained for measurement of TRAb using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method among mothers and their neonates. TSH of mothers was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The case group consisted of 65 patients with CH and their mothers; controls were 148 healthy neonates and their mothers. The prevalence of positive TRAb in patients with CH and their mothers was higher than in the control group (81.5% vs. 1.3% in mothers and 80% vs. 0% in neonates, respectively, P<0.05). The relationship between the TRAb and occurrence of CH was significant (P<0.05), whereas the corresponding figure was not significant for TRAb and the level of maternal and neonatal TSH in case and control groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that autoimmunity has an important role in the etiology of CH. Further studies are necessary to determine other autoantibodies in CH patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center and Child Health Promotion Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemipour
authors.forename: Shima Salehi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abari
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mostofizadeh
authors.forename: Shaghayegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haghjooy-Javanmard
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esmail
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hovsepian
authors.forename: Amini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masoud
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasanzadeh
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirouliaei