Thyroid hormone levels in cord blood of infants with acidemia at birth

Objective: To study the Funic thyroid hormone levels in cases were fetal di stress during labor resulted in acidemia at birth. Material and methods: Ar terial and venous levels of TSH, total T4, free T4 and total T3 obtained fr om cord blood at birth of twelve acidemic fetuses were compared with normal controls. Results: Acidemic fetuses had a significantly higher TSH levels than controls (16.5+/-2.1 mu I/dl vs. 9.6+/-1.4 mu I/dl, P=0.01). Total T3 levels were significantly lower in acidemic fetuses (49.2+/-2.9 ng/dl vs. 6 3+/-5.5 ng/dl, P=0.01). Total and free T4 levels were similar and there was no difference between arterial and venous levels of the hormones. Conclusi ons: Birth acidemia from Fetal distress during labor is associated with hig her TSH levels and lower T3 levels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.