INCIDENCE OF CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM IN A 2 YEAR STUDY PERIOD, IDENTIFIED BY NEWBORN SCREENING AT A TERTIARY LEVEL HOSPITAL,BANGALORE

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism over a 2 year study period in newborns delivered at a tertiary level hospital.METHODS: This observational study was conducted in post natal wards of a tertiary hospital at Bangalore, Karnataka to study the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism from 1 st June 2011 to May 31 st 2013.2376 newborns were included in the study.Babies in whom TSH concentration was greater than 20µIU/ml in whole blood on the initial screening sample were considered to have positive screening test for congenital hypothyroidism.They were classified as transient(TSH between 20 and 50µ IU/ml) or permanent (TSH > 50 µ IU/ml)RESULTS: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in KIMS was 1.26 /1000 live births (3 newborns out of 2376 had permanent hypothyroidism).The incidence of transient hypothyroidism was 1.68/1000 live births (4 out of 2376).Total number of mothers with hypothyroidism was 108.None of the permanent congenital hypothyroid babies were born to hypothyroid mothers. 1 newborn with transient hypothyroidism was born to a hypothyroid mother on treatment with thyronorm.CONCLUSION: Incidence of CH at KIMS, Bangalore, India is 1.26/1000 live births; which is 3 times greater than global incidence of 1:3000 to 1:4000.It is reemphasized that incidence of CH is high in Indian population as compared to western counterparts.CH continues to remain most common cause of mental retardation and hence should be identified early and treated.