Neonatal hyperthyroidism: a case report and literature review / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

We report a case of neonatal thyrotoxicosis with concurrent respiratory failure in an infant born to a mother with Graves' disease and review the published literature describing neonatal hyperthyroidism. The male infant who was born by spontaneous delivery at 35 weeks of gestational age presented with fever, tachycardia and tachypnea at rest on day 11 after birth, and developed severe apnea on day 14. Thyroid function studies revealed hyperthyroidism in the infant, and his mother was confirmed to have Grave's disease during pregnancy. Literature review showed that among the 33 infants with similar conditions, tachycardia, tachypnea and poor weight gain were the most distinct clinical features of congenital hyperthyroidism. Accurate diagnosis of Graves' disease in the mother during pregnancy and awareness of the clinical presentations of neonatal hyperthyroidism are key to reducing missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of neonatal hyperthyroidism.