Neonatal hyperthyroidism in infants of mothers previously thyroidectomized due to Graves' disease.

Neonatal hyperthyroidism generally arises as a result of active maternal Graves' disease via transplacental passage of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI). On occasions, production of these antibodies may continue after thyroid ablation, either surgically or with radioiodine therapy. We present data concerning three patients (two of them twins) whose mothers had previously undergone near-total thyroidectomy prior to conception. Two of the neonates had neonatal hyperthyroidism due to persistence of TSI in the mother, and the third due to relapse of the maternal Graves' disease during pregnancy. We recommend monitoring

[Randomized multi-center trial of the administration of erythropoietin in anemia of prematurity]. / Estudio multicéntrico aleatorizado de administración de eritropoyetina en la anemia de la prematuridad.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test the therapeutic effect of human recombinant erythropoietin (rH-EPO) on anemia of prematurity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-eight preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestational age from three different hospitals were studied. Transfusional policies were similar in all three centers. Infants with ABO or Rh incompatibility were excluded. At 28 days after birth, 28 infants (48.3%) had hemoglobin levels under 10.5 g/dL and were randomized to receive rH-EPO or standard care. Those infants ascribed to the treatment group received 200 U/kg of body weight of rH-EPO subcutaneously once a day, three days a week for 4 weeks together with oral supplements of ferrous sulfate at a dosage of 4 mg/kg/day. Both groups received daily doses of 50 micrograms of folic acid and 5U of vitamin E per os. Erythropoietin and ferritin were determined at randomization and at 60 days of age. Hemoglobin, reticulocytes, leucocytes, granulocytes and platelets were measured once a week, from the beginning of the treatment until 60 days of age. RESULTS: At randomization into treatments, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to weight, gestational age, hemoglobin (9.42 +/- 0.73 vs 9.26 +/- 0.68 g/dL), reticulocytes (61.7 +/- 32.2 vs 68.0 +/- 61.0 x 10(9)/L), ferritin, EPO1 leucocytes or platelets. At 60 days of age, the treatment group showed higher hemoglobin values (10.5 +/- 1.73 vs 9.1 +/- 1.0 g/dL, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between reticulocyte counts (176.4 +/- 91.1 vs 112.6 +/- 85.0 x 10(9)/L), granulocytes (2,351 +/- 868 vs 2,075 +/- 856 x 10(9)/L), platelets (400 +/- 138 vs 316 +/- 164 x 10(9)/L) or ferritin (209 +/- 177 vs 393 +/- 328 micrograms/mL). Of the infants in the nontreated group, 13.3% received blood transfusions between 30 and 60 days of age, while only 6.7% of the treatment group did (p = 0.31). DISCUSSION: We have been able to find 11 controlled studies in the medical literature which deal with the clinical usage of rH-EPO in newborns. Six use the hormone in an early phase and 5 in a posterior one. Our study should be included in the later and, as happens in most of them, demonstrates the efficacy of rH-EPO in the treatment of late anemia of the preterm newborn as shown by an increment in the hemoglobin levels and a trend towards the diminution in the use of blood transfusions. We have not observed substantial adverse effects.

[Perinatal factors predicting hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in asphyxic newborn infants]. / Factores perinatales predictivos de encefalopatía hipoxicoisquémica en el recién nacido asfíctico.

Between 1 May 1984 and 30 April 1985, 1,354 term or posterm neonates being white and having asphyxia in controlled delivery were studied to predict development of neurological signs and its seriousness. In each case correlations were estimated between the existence of neurological signs and its grade and 100 gestational, obstetric and neonatal factors of potential predictor. The discriminatory analysis indicated that the more significants predictors were: Apgar at five minutes, prolonged labor, twins, resuscitation, DIP I, cephalhematoma, caput succedaneum, umbilical artery pH, urgent cesarean section, hemorrhagic amniotic fluid, gestational edema, variable DIP, high forceps. A discriminatory value less than or equal to 2 predicts no neurological sign in 93.8%, while a value greater than or equal to 3 predicts moderate or serious signs is 98.4%.