Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2000;82:F215-F217
( May )
Thyroid function in very low birthweight infants after
intravenous administration of the iodinated contrast medium iopromide
J Dembinskia, V Arpeb, M Krollb, G Hieronimib, P Bartmanna
a Department of
Neonatology, Children's University Clinic Bonn, Germany, b Department of
Neonatology, Children's Clinic, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany
Correspondence to: Dr Dembinski, Department of Neonatology, Center of Pediatrics,
University of Bonn, Adenauerallee119, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Accepted 24 November
1999
BACKGROUND
Thyroid
function disorders have often been observed in preterm infants after
intravenous administration of iodinated contrast medium. The effect on
thyroid function depends on the dosage, but the choice of the contrast
medium may be equally important, as there are appreciable
pharmacological differences between them.
METHOD
Thyroid
function was analysed in 20 very low birthweight infants of gestational
age less than 30 weeks after injection of iopromide, a monomeric
non-ionic iodinated contrast medium. Levels of free thyroxine and
thyroid stimulating hormone were compared with those in 26 control infants.
RESULTS
Free thyroxine
levels in all study infants ranged from 9.0 to 25.7 pmol/l (days
14-21) and 9.0 to 23.2 pmol/l (days 35-49), and thyroid stimulating
hormone levels ranged from 0.13 to 0.26 mU/l (days 14-21) and 0.26 to
11.11 mU/l (days 35-49). These levels were not altered after injection
of iopromide.
CONCLUSION
The risk of
transient hypothyroidism or hyperthyrotropinaemia may be reduced with
the use of iopromide compared with other contrast media.
Keywords:
preterm infants;
iodine;
iopromide;
thyroid
function;
thyroxine;
contrast medium
© 2000 by Archives of Disease in Childhood