I suspect the idea of including Free T4 testing in the heel test done shortly after birth is highly desirable. TSH-only is nonsense. (This is far from the first paper to come to that conclusion.) Timing is also important - too soon after birth potentially means that the mother's thyroid hormones and baby's low TSH generation capability are together sufficient to keep TSH down.
Recognition of the genetic issues is potentially very important - but likely to be too late in many cases.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017 Mar;86(3):410-418. doi: 10.1111/cen.13149. Epub 2016 Aug 4.
Molecular spectrum of TSHβ subunit gene defects in central hypothyroidism in the UK and Ireland.
Nicholas AK1, Jaleel S2, Lyons G1, Schoenmakers E1, Dattani MT3, Crowne E4, Bernhard B5, Kirk J6, Roche EF2,7, Chatterjee VK1, Schoenmakers N1.
Author information
1 University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
2 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, National Children's Hospital, AMNCH, Dublin, Ireland.
3 University College London Institute of Child Health, Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Section of Genetics and Epigenetics in Health and Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, London, UK.
4 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
5 Department of Clinical Genetics, North West Thames Regional Genetics Service, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, Harrow, UK.
6 Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
7 University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Homozygous mutations in the TSH beta subunit gene (TSHB) result in severe, isolated, central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH). This entity evades diagnosis in TSH-based congenital hypothyroidism (CH) screening programmes in the UK and Ireland. Accordingly, genetic diagnosis, enabling ascertainment of affected relatives in families, is critical for prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.
DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS:
Four cases of isolated TSH deficiency from three unrelated families in the UK and Ireland were investigated for mutations or deletions in TSHB. Haplotype analysis, to investigate a founder effect, was undertaken in cases with identical mutations (c.373delT).
RESULTS:
Two siblings in kindred 1 were homozygous for a previously described TSHB mutation (c.373delT). In kindreds 2 and 3, the affected individuals were compound heterozygous for TSHB c.373delT and either a 5·4-kB TSHB deletion (kindred 2, c.1-4389_417*195delinsCTCA) or a novel TSHB missense mutation (kindred 3, c.2T>C, p.Met1?). Neurodevelopmental retardation, following delayed diagnosis and treatment, was present in 3 cases. In contrast, the younger sibling in kindred 1 developed normally following genetic diagnosis and treatment from birth.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study, including the identification of a second, novel, TSHB deletion, expands the molecular spectrum of TSHB defects and suggests that allele loss may be a commoner basis for TSH deficiency than previously suspected. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of profound central hypothyroidism in such cases result in neurodevelopmental retardation. Inclusion of thyroxine (T4) plus thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), or free thyroxine (FT4) in CH screening, together with genetic case ascertainment enabling earlier therapeutic intervention, could prevent such adverse sequelae.
© 2016 The Authors. Clinical Endocrinology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PMID: 27362444
PMCID: PMC5324561
DOI: 10.1111/cen.13149
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/273...
Full text freely accessible here:
Just wish I understood half!
"thyroid epidemic" in the west of ireland....
Hypothyroidism discussed in UK Parliament and recorded in Hansard.
Price of Liothyronine in the UK
UK Visa for Medical Care of hypothyroidism and breast cancer.
