Analysis of motor, cognitive and language performance of infants undergoing treatment for congenital hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the association between the age of treatment onset and confirmatory TSH level (as an indicator of severity) with a greater risk of developmental delay in infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). METHOD: The authors conducted a cross-sectional, observational, unmatched case-control study at a Brazilian neonatal screening reference center. Seventy-seven infants with CH (mean age: 12 ± 6.4 months) were examined. The authors evaluated their performance using the Bayley-III Screening Test and categorized them as "LOWER RISK" (competent category) or "GREATER RISK" (combined at-risk + emergent categories) for developmental delay based on the 25th percentile cutoff. RESULTS: Infants with CH are at a higher risk of non-competent performance in cognition, receptive language, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills when compared to infants without CH. This risk is more pronounced in infants with more severe indications of CH (TSH > 30 µUI/L in the confirmatory test) for cognition (OR = 5.64; p = 0.01), receptive language (OR = 14.68; p = 0.000), fine motor skills (OR = 8.25; p = 0.000), and gross motor skills (OR = 5.00; p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The level of TSH in the confirmatory test can be a good indicator for identifying infants with CH who are at a higher risk of non-competent performance in cognition, receptive language, and motor skills. Monitoring development, early detection of delays, and intervention programs are particularly important for infants with CH.

Visual function and fine-motor control in small-for-gestational age infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare visual function and fine-motor control of full-term infants small-for-gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA), in the first three months. METHOD: We evaluated prospectively 31 infants in the 1st month; 33 in the 2nd and 34 infants in the 3rd month, categorized as full-term; birth weight less than 10th percentile for SGA and 25th to 90th percentile for the AGA group. Genetic syndromes, infections, multiple congenital malformations were excluded. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II were used, especially items related to visual function and to fine-motor control outcomes. RESULTS: The Motor Index Score (IS) was significantly lower in the SGA group in the 2nd month. The items "attempts to bring hands to mouth", in the 1st month and "reaches for suspended ring", in the 3rd month showed higher frequency in the SGA group. CONCLUSION: The Motor IS was lower in the 2nd month and items of fine-motor control in the 1st month and in the 3rd month showed higher frequency in the SGA group.

Visual function and fine-motor control in small-for-gestational age infants

OBJETIVO: Comparar a função visual e o controle motor apendicular de lactentes nascidos a termo pequenos para a idade gestacional (PIG) com lactentes adequados para a idade gestacional (AIG), no primeiro trimestre. MÉTODO: Amostra de 31 lactentes no 1º mês, 33 no 2º e 34 lactentes no 3º mês, nascidos a termo; peso de nascimento < percentil 10 para o grupo PIG e percentil 25 a 90 para o grupo AIG. Síndromes genéticas, infecções ou malformações congênitas múltiplas foram excluídas. Foram utilizadas as Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II, especialmente itens relacionados com a evolução da função visual e controle motor apendicular. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença significativa no Index Score (IS) Motor no 2º mês, havendo pontuação menor no grupo PIG. Os itens "tenta trazer mão à boca", no 1º mês e "alcança aro suspenso" no 3º mês foram mais freqüentes no grupo PIG. CONCLUSAO: No grupo PIG, o IS Motor foi menor no 2º mês e maior número de lactentes executaram provas de controle motor apendicular no 1º e 3º meses.