Auditory brainstem evoked potentials in early-treated congenital hypothyroidism.

To evaluate the effect of early treatment of congenital hypothyroidism on central nervous system development, auditory brainstem evoked potentials were determined in 32 patients with hyperthyrotropinemia diagnosed during neonatal screening. The patients included 27 with congenital hypothyroidism and 5 with transient hypothyroidism. Abnormal auditory brainstem evoked potential tracings were found in 8 patients (congenital hypothyroidism in 7 and transient hypothyroidism in 1). Four of these patients had increased peripheral conduction time (wave I prolongation), and the other 4 had increased central conduction time (wave III or V prolongation). The patients with abnormal auditory brainstem evoked potentials did not show increased initial manifestations, yet 6 of them had lower initial thyroxine levels. Specific auditory brainstem evoked potential abnormalities were found in 25% of early-treated patients with congenital hypothyroidism. The possible causal relationship between deviant auditory brainstem evoked potential patterns and later neurodevelopment demands further clarification. This study suggests the usefulness of auditory brainstem evoked potential assessment to provide information about electrophysiologic deviation of the auditory pathway in patients with early-treated congenital hypothyroidism.