CENTRAL HYPOTHYROIDISM RESULTING FROM PITUITARY SUPPRESSION AND PERIPHERAL THYROTOXICOSIS IN A PREMATURE-INFANT BORN TO A MOTHER WITH GRAVES-DISEASE

We observed the sequential changes in serum thyroid hormones and thyro id-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies in an infant born at 30 wee ks of gestation to a mother with florid Graves disease. Transient cent ral hypothyroidism caused by pituitary suppression was observed after the resolution of peripheral thyrotoxicosis induced by thyroid-stimula ting antibody. Central hypothyroidism became overt when the suppressio n of the pituitary gland after fetal thyrotoxicosis was combined with weak activity of thyroid-stimulating antibody after birth.