[Prospective study at 1 week of life of thyroid function in 97 consecutive pre-term newborns under 32 weeks of gestation]. / Étude prospective à une semaine de vie de la fonction thyroïdienne chez 97 prématurés consécutifs de terme inférieur à 32 semaines d'aménorrhée.

UNLABELLED: Hypothyroxinemia of prematurity (HTOP) is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment in pre-term newborns born at less than 32 weeks of gestation (WG). HTOP is not clearly defined in the literature and there is no consensus on whether or not treatment of HTOP is beneficial. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of HTOP and to determine the population at risk of HTOP. POPULATION AND METHODS: Ninety-seven pre-term newborns under 32 WG were prospectively included in this study. FT4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum levels were assessed between day of life 5 and 7. HTOP was defined as serum level of FT4 0.80 ng/dl or less and TSH less than 20 mUI/l. RESULTS: The HTOP incidence was 29% in pre-term newborns under 32 WG and 64% in pre-term newborns 28 WG or less. FT4 levels were correlated with gestational age (P<0.001). The incidence of hypotension (61% vs 33%; P<0.05), patent ductus arteriosus (50% vs 17%; P<0.05), dopamine treatment (39% vs 16%; P<0.05), and hydrocortisone treatment (25% vs 6%; p<0.05) was higher in the HTOP group. Similarly, severe intracerebral hemorrhage (14% vs 0%; P<0.01) and hypothermic events under 36 °C (1.8 ± 1.7 vs 0.0 ± 0.4; P<0.05) were higher in the HTOP group. CONCLUSION: Incidence of HTOP is high in pre-term newborns born at less than 28 WG. Morbidity during the first week of life is higher in cases of HTOP. Whether or not treatment of all pre-term with l-thyroxin is beneficial is unknown. However, treatment of the subgroup of pre-term newborns under 28 WG with HTOP should be considered.

The safety and efficacy of nitric oxide therapy in premature infants.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety-efficacy balance of low-dose inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in hypoxemic premature infants because no sustained beneficial effect has been demonstrated clearly and there are concerns about side effects. STUDY DESIGN: Eight hundred and sixty infants <32 weeks were randomized at birth to receive 5 ppm iNO or placebo when they presented with hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF) defined by a requirement for mechanical ventilation, fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO 2 ) >40%, and arterio-alveolar ratio in oxygen (aAO 2 ) <0.22. The primary end point was intact survival at 28 days of age. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 415 infants presented with HRF and were compared with 84 of 445 controls who presented with HRF. There was no difference in the primary end point (61.4% in infants [23% with HRF who were treated with iNO] vs 61.1% in controls [21.4% in controls with HRF]; P = .943). For the infants with HRF who were treated with iNO, there was no significant difference from controls for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (6% vs 7%), necrotizing enterocolitis (8% vs 6 %), or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (34% vs 37%). Compared with nonhypoxemic infants, the risk of bronchopulmonary displasia (BPD) increased significantly in HRF controls (OR = 3.264 [CI 1.461-7.292]) but not in infants with HRF who were treated with iNO (OR = 1.626 [CI 0.633-4.178]). CONCLUSIONS: iNO appears to be safe in premature infants but did not lead to a significant improvement in intact survival on day 28.

[Neonatal renal venous thrombosis following an electrical shock in pregnancy]. / Thrombose néonatale de la veine rénale suite à une électrisation in-utero accidentelle.

Neonatal renal venous thrombosis may result in severe morbidity. Predisposing conditions are well known. We report the case of an unusual and early neonatal renal venous thrombosis. The mother received an electrical shock at 34 weeks gestation. This case demonstrates that maternal electrical shock effect on the fetus should be early investigated.

Metaphyseal anadysplasia in two sisters.

Metaphyseal anadysplasia is a rare form of metaphyseal chondrodysplasia with well-defined radiological abnormalities. The prognosis is good as the natural course results in regression of the lesions with normal stature in adulthood. The few reported cases, exclusively in male children, indicated possible X-linked recessive transmission. The documentation of two affected sisters suggests genetic heterogeneity or another mode of inheritance.