REFERENCE INTERVAL OF SERUM THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE AND THYROXINE IN HEALTHY NIGERIAN NEWBORNS - A LOCAL REFERENCE PROFILE FOR JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

BACKGROUND Thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) in normal quantity are vital for physical growth and mental development during foetal and postnatal life. Normal development of children is contingent upon the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Establishment of local thyroid profile (Viz: T3, T4 and TSH) can be used for screening for thyroid diseases. AIM This study was aimed at establishing the reference interval of thyroxine and thyrotropin in healthy term Nigerian newborns in JUTH. METHOD One hundred and sixty healthy term newborn babies who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion were selected by non-random sampling. Cord blood sample taken from the newborns were analyzed for T4 and TSH using the Enzyme Link Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULT TSH mU/L Reference Interval Lower reference limit 0.22 (0.21 - 0.23) mU/L Upper reference limit 29.2 (21.8 - 29.2) mU/L T4 nmol/L Reference Interval Lower reference limit 63.0 (55.0 - 66.0) nmol/L Upper reference limit 201.2 (201.1 - 202.9) nmol/L CONCLUSION It is suggested that value greater than 15 mU/L in this study be further screened for congenital hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, there were not followed up to establish this recommendation.