Pilot study on neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Iraq

Background: Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is an essential preventive public health program for early identification of disorders that can lead to potentially catastrophic health problems Objectives : this is a pilot study conducted to determine the incidence of CH among infants born in two major maternity hospitals in Baghdad City and to build a model for nationwide screening program. Methods : A prospective study on screening of all newborns was conducted in two major maternity hospitals in Baghdad, from 01.12.2001 - 31.12.2002. A total of 6949 neonates were screened for CH, cord blood samples were examined for serum TSH levels by immunoflourecent method (ELIZA) and reexamined for T4 using a cutoff sTSH value of 40 mIU / L. Results : three neonates were proved to have Congenital hypothyroidism (incidence of 1: 2275), forty eight (0.7 %) neonates had sTSH > 40mIU / l. Females and neonates delivered by Cesarean sections and premature neonates had a higher predilection for hyperthyrotropinaemia. Conclusion : the incidence of CH is notably approximate to the incidence of the disease in the nearby and surrounding countries and higher than other mountainous developing countries and much higher than the incidence of CH in Europe. The present study found that neonatal screening program can be handled in the hospitals and required further coordination to adopt a nationwide screening program which must be started in Iraq.