BACKGROUND: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects approximately 1:3000-1:4000 infants. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of CH and isolated hyperthyrotropinemia (IHT) in newborns selected in mass screening for CH. METHODS: Mass screening of 233,120 neonates born in southeastern Poland was carried out and CH-suspected children were identified. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels were determined during first confirmation and diagnosis re-evaluation in 118 and 34 children, respectively. Additionally, the patients were subjected to thyroid ultrasonography (n=53) and/or scintiscan (n=28). RESULTS: Out of 118 children, first confirmation indicated CH in 58 neonates and IHT in 4 neonates. Out of these, 34 were re-evaluated with regard to diagnosis. A final diagnosis of permanent CH was reported in 34 children with thyroid dysgenesis (n=27) or dyshormonogenesis (n=7), transient CH affected 15 children, and permanent IHT was diagnosed in 6 children. CH prevalence was 1:4570 (permanent 1:6475, transient 1:38,853) and permanent IHT 1:38,853. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CH and IHT corresponds to the prevalence of the condition in iodine-sufficient and borderline iodine-deficient areas.
BACKGROUND:Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects approximately 1:3000-1:4000 infants. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of CH and isolated hyperthyrotropinemia (IHT) in newborns selected in mass screening for CH. METHODS: Mass screening of 233,120 neonates born in southeastern Poland was carried out and CH-suspected children were identified. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels were determined during first confirmation and diagnosis re-evaluation in 118 and 34 children, respectively. Additionally, the patients were subjected to thyroid ultrasonography (n=53) and/or scintiscan (n=28). RESULTS: Out of 118 children, first confirmation indicated CH in 58 neonates and IHT in 4 neonates. Out of these, 34 were re-evaluated with regard to diagnosis. A final diagnosis of permanent CH was reported in 34 children with thyroid dysgenesis (n=27) or dyshormonogenesis (n=7), transient CH affected 15 children, and permanent IHT was diagnosed in 6 children. CH prevalence was 1:4570 (permanent 1:6475, transient 1:38,853) and permanent IHT 1:38,853. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CH and IHT corresponds to the prevalence of the condition in iodine-sufficient and borderline iodine-deficient areas.