Abstract

GONZALEZ, Verónica G. et al. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in the province of Buenos Aires: Ten years experience in 1.377.455 evaluated children. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2009, vol.48, n.1, pp.45-53. ISSN 1024-0675.

Introduction. Neonatal screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in the province of Buenos Aires began in 1995. Its aim was the early detection and treatment of infants with this disease. The objective of this paper was to analyse its performance during the 2000-2004 year period and compare it to the previous 1995-1999 year period. Population. Every newborn in the province of Buenos Aires to whom the screening test for congenital hypothyroidism was performed in the reference centre, since April 1995 to December 2004. Results. 1.377.455 newborns were evaluated with coverage of 56.8% in the province of Buenos Aires. 568 newborns with congenital hypothyroidism were confirmed. The incidence of the disease was 1:2,425 and the screening positive predictive value was 88.1%. During the second period, the total coverage and the coverage of newborns from hospitals dependent of province's ministry (98%) were similar to those from the previous period. Median age of sample collection and at start of treatment were 6 and 19 days for private hospitals, 3 and 16 days for municipal hospitals, and 2 and 17 days for hospitals dependent of province' ministry, respectively. Conclusions. Screening program for congenital hypothyroidism has successfully contributed to prevent mental retardation of this etiology in the province of Buenos Aires, making possible the early detection of the disease. Nevertheless, private and municipal coverage should be extended and the age at start of treatment should decrease to less than 15 days in every child with congenital hypothyroidism.

Keywords : screening; congenital hypothyroidism; mental retardation.

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