A Study of Impact of Perinatal Asphyxia on Thyroid Hormone Levels

BACKGROUND: The importance of thyroid hormones in neonatal homeostasis is well known. Perinatal asphyxia affects thyroid hormone equilibrium by way of depressing the central secretion of the thyroid stimulating hormone levels. Lower thyroid hormone levels have been associated with increase in morbidity and mortality. AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the effect of perinatal asphyxia on thyroid function in new-born babies and to find out the association between the thyroid hormone levels and the severity and morbidity of asphyxia. METHODS: Venous samples of T3, T4, TSH were collected at 18-24 hours of life from 30 asphyxiated and 30 non asphyxiated babies. Severity of Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy was graded by Sarnat and Sarnat staging within 24 hours of life. Asphyxiated babies were followed up in the immediate postnatal period upto 72 hours for the presence of multiorgan dysfunction like respiratory distress, cardiogenic shock, seizures and renal failure. RESULTS: Thyroid profile variations in asphyxiated neonates and non asphyxiated neonates were as follows: The mean T3 in asphyxiated neonates was 87.1640 ng/dl and in non-asphyxiated neonates was 159.1233 ng/dl. Mean T4 among asphyxiated neonates was 9.6737 ng/dl, in non-asphyxiated neonates it was 12.024 ng/dl. Mean TSH level in asphyxiated neonates were 1.6742ng/dl and in non-asphyxiated neonates was 2.490 ng/dl. All the parameters were statistically significant with P