Cord Blood Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Values in Healthy Term Babies delivered at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most common preventable causes of mental retardation and clinical manifestations are often subtle or absent at birth and hence the need for screening. Implementation of newborn screening requires local normative values. OBJECTIVES: To determine the normative values of cord Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) among term babies in Bauchi, Northeast Nigeria and compare it with that from other centers in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: Cord blood samples from 200 term babies were analyzed for TSH by Fluorescence Immunoassay technique in this descriptive cross-sectional study. A cut-off of >20 µIU/ml was used for recall. The mean and range were determined and compared with those of previous local studies using t-test. Impact of some maternal and infant factors on TSH was also assessed. RESULTS: The overall mean (SD) cord TSH was 3.74 (±1.99) µIU/ ml and the range was 0.73 to 15.22 µIU/ml (2.5th to 97.5th centile) and none had TSH > 20 µIU/ml and hence our recall rate was 0%. The mean cord TSH was comparable to that reported by a lone local multicenter study (p = 0.120) but significantly different from that of 3 other local studies (p < 0.001). There was also no significant difference between the means of different gender, birth weight groups, mode of delivery, socio-economic classes, maternal age and parity. CONCLUSION: The Cord blood TSH level of most term newborn in Bauchi, similar to other Nigerian studies, is < 10 µIU/ml with a few but significant percentage recording cord TSH level > 10 µIU/ml. Gender, birth weight, mode of delivery, socio-economic class, maternal age and parity were not significantly related to cord TSH level. The mean blood TSH values from different studies across the country tend to vary based on the assay technique. We recommend a nationwide multicenter study with a much larger sample size, lower cutoff value for recall and a unified sample processing laboratory if national normative values are to be developed.

BACKGROUND: L'hypothyroïdie congénitale est l'une des causes évitables les plus courantes de retard mental et les manifestations cliniques sont souvent subtiles ou absentes à la naissance, d'où la nécessité d'un dépistage. La mise en œuvre du dépistage néonatal nécessite des valeurs normatives locales. OBJECTIFS: Déterminer les valeurs normatives de l'hormone stimulatrice de la thyroïde (TSH) du cordon chez les bébés nés à terme à Bauchi, Nord-Est du Nigeria et les comparer à celles d'autres centres du Nigeria. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Des échantillons de sang ombilical de 200 bébés nés à terme ont été analysés pour la TSH par la technique d' étude descriptive transversale. Un seuil de >20 µUI/ml a été utilisé pour le rappel. La moyenne et l'intervalle ont été déterminés et comparés avec ceux des études locales précédentes en utilisant le test t. L'impact de certains facteurs maternels myet infantiles sur la TSH a également été évalué. RÉSULTATS: La moyenne globale (SD) de la TSH du cordon était de 3,74 (±1,99) µIU/ml et l'intervalle était de 0,73 à 15,22 µIU/ml (2,5 à 97,5 centiles) aucun n'avait une TSH > 20 µIU/ml et donc notre taux de rappel était de 0%. La moyenne de TSH au cordon était comparable à celle rapportée par une seule étude multicentrique locale unique (p = 0,120) mais significativement différente de celle de 3 autres études locales (p < 0,001). Il n'y avait pas non plus de différence significative entre les moyennes des différents sexes, groupes de poids de naissance, mode d'accouchement, classes socio d'accouchement, les classes socio-économiques, l'âge maternel et la parité. CONCLUSION: Le niveau de TSH dans le sang de cordon de la plupart des nouveau-nés à termede la plupart des nouveau-nés à terme à Bauchi, comme dans d'autres études nigérianes, est < 10 µUI/ml mais significatif, enregistrant un niveau de TSH du cordon > 10 µIU/ml. Le sexe, le poids à la naissance, le mode d'accouchement, la classe socio-économique maternelle et la parité n'étaient pas significativement liés au taux de TSH au cordon. Le site valeurs moyennes de la TSH sanguine provenant de différentes études dans le pays ont tendance à varier en fonction de la technique de dosage. Nous recommandons une étude nationale multicentrique avec une taille d'échantillon beaucoup plus grande, une valeur seuil pour le rappel et un laboratoire de traitement des échantillons unifié si des valeurs normatives nationales doivent être développées. Mots clés: Sang de cordon, Hormone de stimulation thyroïdienne, Bébés à terme.

Awareness, perception and practice of female genital mutilation among expectant mothers in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, north-central Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: WHO estimates that some 130 million women worldwide are affected, and every year another 2 million girls and young women are at risk of undergoing the practice of FGM. Although Nigeria has a prevalence of 19% in 2003,a reduction from 25% prevalence of 1999 national survey, it still has high absolute number of cases with wide regional variation. The awareness and perception of expectant mothers may give an insight as to what awaits their unborn daughters and have a bearing on the future of the practice. METHODOLOGY: Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 260 expectant mothers at the antenatal clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital between 1st and 31st July 2007. RESULTS: Majority of the respondents (94.6%) were aware of FGM. Mass media was the main source of information. Majority (83.8%) wanted the practice to be discontinued, 31.3% reported having had FGM, most done by traditional healers. About 14.6% have a plan to circumcise their daughters citing tradition, marriage prospects, and faithfulness to husband as their reasons. Only 16.2% wanted the practice to continue. CONCLUSION: There is high level of awareness of the FGM among respondents who also have negative attitude to the practice, even as the practice is still prevalent. More health education is needed to illustrate the dangers of the practice in order to safeguard the health of the girl-child.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation following induction of labour with misoprostol: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Disseminated Intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) has been reported following use of Misoprostol which is an old drug with new indications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its effectiveness, low cost, stability in tropical conditions and ease of administration as well as side effects like gastrointestinal effect, uterine rupture and post partum haemorrhage (PPH) have been documented. METHOD: This is to report a case of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) associated with use of misoprostol for induction of labour and to call for extra vigilance in its use. RESULT: This was a case of 22-year old gravida 2 para 1 at 42 weeks gestation that was induced with 100 microg of misoprostol and delivered a live female baby with good Apgar score. She subsequently developed PPH and epistaxis simultaneously, then conjunctival haemorrhage 30 minutes later. She was managed with fresh whole blood and had a satisfactory recovery. CONCLUSION: Life threatening complication could result from use of Misoprostol. More research and high index of suspicion are needed to establish the association of prostaglandins with DIC.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Following Induction of Labour with Misoprostol

Background: Disseminated Intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) has been reported following use of Misoprostol which is an old drug with new indications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its effectiveness; low cost; stability in tropical conditions and ease of administration as well as side effects like gastrointestinal effect; uterine rupture and post partum haemorrhage (PPH) have been documented. Method: This is to report a case of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) associated with use of misoprostol for induction of labour and to call for extra vigilance in its use.Result: This was a case of 22-year old gravida 2 para 1 at 42 weeks gestation that was induced with 100?g of isoprostol and delivered a live female baby with good Apgar score. She subsequently developed PPH and epistaxis simultaneously; then conjunctival haemorrhage 30 minutes later. She was managed with fresh whole blood and had a satisfactory recovery. Conclusion: Life threatening complication could result from use of Misoprostol. More research and high index of suspicion are needed to establish the association of prostaglandins with DIC

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Following Induction of Labour with Misoprostol

Background: Disseminated Intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) has been reported following use of Misoprostol which is an old drug with new indications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its effectiveness; low cost; stability in tropical conditions and ease of administration as well as side effects like gastrointestinal effect; uterine rupture and post partum haemorrhage (PPH) have been documented. Method: This is to report a case of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) associated with use of misoprostol for induction of labour and to call for extra vigilance in its use.Result: This was a case of 22-year old gravida 2 para 1 at 42 weeks gestation that was induced with 100?g of isoprostol and delivered a live female baby with good Apgar score. She subsequently developed PPH and epistaxis simultaneously; then conjunctival haemorrhage 30 minutes later. She was managed with fresh whole blood and had a satisfactory recovery. Conclusion: Life threatening complication could result from use of Misoprostol. More research and high index of suspicion are needed to establish the association of prostaglandins with DIC