A Longitudinal Assessment of Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Preterm Infants Younger Than 30 Weeks’ Gestation During the First 2 Weeks of Life and Their Relationship to Outcome

Abstract

1) Thyroid hormone levels in preterm infants <30 weeks were much lower than in term infants, 2) the postnatal surge of thyroid hormones normally seen at 24 to 48 hours of age in term infants did not occur in our group of preterm infant, and 3) low FT3 and FT4 levels are associated with higher mortality and severity of lung disease.