Thyroid function in healthy and sick very-low-birth-weight infants - Thyrotropin and free thyroxine levels until the sixth week of age

Hypothyroxinemia in preterm infants without congenital hypothyroidism is as sociated with developmental delay. Longitudinal information on thyroid func tion in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, <1,500 g birth weight) infants is limi ted: we present data on thyroid function in sick and healthy VLBW infants u ntil 6 weeks of age. Free T-4 and TSH levels routinely obtained on days 14- 21 and days 35-49 in 92 consecutive VLBW infants were correlated retrospect ively with neonatal morbidity. Free T4 levels were positively correlated wi th gestational age; an independent effect of neonatal disease on thyroid fu nction was not detectable. Copyright (C) 2001 S.Karger AG, Basel.