Assuntos
Hipotireoidismo Congênito , Triagem Neonatal/normas , Tireotropina/sangue , Reações Falso-Positivas , Humanos , Hipotireoidismo/prevenção & controle , Recém-Nascido , Estudos Prospectivos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Tiroxina/sangue , Fatores de Tempo , Wisconsin/epidemiologiaRESUMO
High-sensitivity neonatal hypothyroid screening tests are used throughout the country. Because of low specificity, primary care physicians are faced with an abundance of false-positive results that challenge the interpreting physician with clinical, economic, and medicolegal considerations. We surveyed 154 physicians caring for Wisconsin-born infants with the highest newborn-screen thyrotropin values in a two-year period. Our results indicated that (1) confirmation of thyroid normalcy is often delayed beyond 6 weeks of age; (2) there is wide variation among physicians regarding therapeutic goals if hypothyroidism is confirmed; and (3) physicians prefer autonomy in the management of congenital hypothyroidism. Modifications in hypothyroid screening programs may include confirmatory tests by a central laboratory (that distributes filter paper with all abnormal results), provision of a management decision tree for primary care physicians, and a one-time subsidy for a visit to a pediatric endocrinologist. We suggest that these modifications may improve the long-term outcome of hypothyroid infants identified by the screening program.