The goiter of a newborn from a mother with Graves´ disease

Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2013;19(2):82-4.

Abstract

Introduction: Congenital goiter is a rare condition which can be associated with both fetal hyper- and hypothyroidism. It may result from different situations in maternal-fetal thyroid function because antithyroid medication, iodine as well as stimulatory and inhibitory antibodies readily cross the placenta. Aim of the study is the presentation of a newborn infant with congenital goiter and neonatal thyroid suppression that could be attributed to either an in utero exposure to antithyroid drug - propylthiouracil (PTU) or mother´s blocking antibodies.

Case report: Full term neonate was born with enlarged thyroid and signs (laboratory findings) of congenital hypothyroidism. The mother was treated due to hyperthyroidism between 8 and 12 week of pregnancy and presented thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) after delivery. During the treatment with replacement doses of L-thyroxin in infancy period no thyroid antibodies in the child were detected.

Conclusions: The most probable reason was the negative influence of PTU: very high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level since delivery and goiter development indicate that fetal hypothyroidism had been developing for a long time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Congenital Hypothyroidism / diagnosis*
  • Congenital Hypothyroidism / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Goiter / congenital*
  • Graves Disease / congenital
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / administration & dosage*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin