Inconsistencies in the management of neonates born to mothers with “thyroid diseases”

Although thyroid medications are frequently prescribed during pregnancy, paediatricians treating the respective neonates often have no information about the underlying maternal thyroid disease, and inconsistencies in postnatal diagnostics may result. We analysed a cohort of 1819 mothers admitted for delivery in 1 year to one hospital. We analysed the pre- and postpartum diagnostics in the mothers, the postnatal diagnostics in the neonates and their postnatal auxological development. Two hundred thirteen mothers (11.7%) had “thyroid disease”; 37 (2.0%) had Hashimoto thyroiditis, seven (0.4%) Graves’ disease and 169 (9.3%) “thyroid disease of other origins”. One hundred eighty-eight out of 213 (88%, 10.3% of the entire cohort) took levothyroxine. Pre- and postpartum diagnostics of the mothers and postnatal diagnostics of the neonates revealed striking inconsistencies. For example, 39 % of the gynaecologists routinely determined TSH, while only 59% carried out a dosage adjustment for known hypothyroidism. Second specialists were consulted in 86%. Unnecessary postpartum diagnostics were initiated in 19/213 neonates (9%). TRAb was analysed, however, in only one neonate born from the mothers with Graves’ disease—a condition in which further diagnostic efforts are mandatory. Conclusion : Although many pregnant women have thyroid dysfunction, we observed a lack of uniformity in the diagnostic approach of the women and their neonates. What is Known: • Disturbed maternal thyroid function in pregnancy often has an adverse impact on both the mother and the foetus. • Although detailed guidelines for managing impaired maternal thyroid function during pregnancy have been published, their application in clinical practice varies widely. What is New: • Recommendations for managing the newborn of a mother presenting with thyroid disease of unknown entity are remarkably inconsistent. • This leads to a possible over-diagnosis in general and a potentially life-threatening failure to note neonatal hyperthyroidism requiring rapid treatment.