Dopamine infusion: A possible cause of undiagnosed congenital hypothyroidism in preterm infants

Abstract

To describe the possibility that dopamine infusion can prevent early diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism.

Case report.

Medical neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary academic medical center.

We report four preterm newborns affected by transient primary congenital hypothyroidism who showed low serum thyroxine and normal thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations on primary screening performed during treatment with dopamine.

Thyroid reevaluation screening after dopamine discontinuation.

Thyroid reevaluation showed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.

We emphasize that dopamine capacity to suppress thyroid-stimulating hormone could prevent early diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism. We suggest all newborns to be tested simultaneously for thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine values at primary screening. A reevaluation of thyroid hormones after dopamine discontinuation is advisable in patients treated with dopamine.