Thyroid function in very low birthweight infants after intravenous administration of the iodinated contrast medium iopromide
- aDepartment of Neonatology, Children's University Clinic Bonn, Germany, bDepartment of Neonatology, Children's Clinic, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany
- Dr Dembinski, Department of Neonatology, Center of Pediatrics, University of Bonn, Adenauerallee119, 53113 Bonn, Germany
- Accepted 24 November 1999
Abstract
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.
