Lm Wong, K Tse

Abstract

A baby girl was delivered at 36 weeks of gestation. Antenatally her mother was diagnosed to have thyrotoxicosis in third trimester and was put on propyl-thiouracil for 2 weeks before delivery. Initially the baby had typical biochemical findings of thyrotoxicosis. In subsequent follow up she developed pituitary hypothyroidism. Treatment with L-thyroxine achieved normal serum free thyroxine level and the baby girl enjoyed normal growth and neuro-development during the 2 years of therapy. The case illustrated the need for early detection of neonatal thyrotoxicosis (especially with current or past maternal history of thyrotoxicosis) and the possibility of subsequent pituitary hypothyroidism.