Births among adolescents account for 13 percent of all births in the United States. Adolescents most commonly use contraception at the time of first intercourse but then often do not use contraception as sexual activity increases. Davtyan reviews cont
New margarines containing plant sterols and stanols claim to lower serum cholesterol concentrations. However, these products cost three to four times more than conventional margarines or butter. Law reviewed the results of randomized trials to assess
A relationship between connective-tissue diseases and silicone breast implants has been the focus of controversy since the early 1990s. The issue has not been fully resolved, despite the publication of three meta-analyses that failed to demonstrate an
Erectile dysfunction occurs 10 to 15 years earlier in men with diabetes than in men in the general population. Erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes tends to be multifactorial. Romeo and colleagues examined the relationship between glycemic contro
Physicians rarely receive instruction in designing exercise programs for older patients, although the evidence about the benefits of exercise is clear. Christmas and Andersen review the benefits of exercise and discuss how the physician can best tailo
Anal cancer accounts for about 2 percent of gastrointestinal cancers reported annually in the United States. It is estimated that approximately 3,400 new cases will be diagnosed in 2000. Recent epidemiologic and virologic studies have determined that
The morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease are mainly due to rupture of plaque, which often results in one of the acute coronary syndromes: unstable angina, non-Q-wave myocardial infarction or Q-wave myocardial
Over the past 25 years, morbidity and mortality have decreased significantly in children with sickle cell disease, and screening tests are now available to diagnose the disease in newborns. The incidence of sepsis caused by pneumococcal and Haemophilu
What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease is a blood disease that children inherit from their parents. The disease causes the red blood cells to make abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of blood that carries oxygen in the body.
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older persons. The aging process results in degenerative changes in the cervical spine that, in advanced stages, can cause compression of the spinal cord. Symptoms
Author: Grace Brooke Huffman
Date: Feb 15, 1997
Premature infants are known to have low levels of thyroxine ([T.sub.4]), triiodothyronine ([T.sub.3]) and thyrotropin (TSH). Disorders of the thyroid may subsequently develop in infants who are exposed to high levels of iodine. Parravicini and colleagues evaluated the effect of iodine exposure on thyroid function in very-low-birth-weight neonates.
Forty-four very-low-birth-weight infants (less than 1,500 g [3 lb, 5 oz]) were grouped by levels of postnatal iodine exposure. Urine samples were collected several times from each infant to test the level of iodine uptake from various antiseptic solutions and/or contrast material used in these infants. Thyroid function tests were also measured in each infant.
The control group included 18 small-for-gestational-age infants never exposed to iodine. An antiseptic solution of 10 percent povidone-iodine was used in nine infants at the site of invasive procedures, such as venipuncture or intravenous line placement. Twelve infants received an injection of an iodine-containing contrast medium. Five infants were exposed to both the antiseptic solution and the contrast medium. A group of average-weight infants served as a comparison group.
The levels of iodine in the urine of the infants exposed to povidone-iodine and the contrast medium were significantly higher than the levels in the control group. By two weeks after birth, no significant differences were apparent between the four groups of infants. The infants exposed to increased iodine also had significantly higher TSH levels than the unexposed infants. In addition, the mean levels of TSH for both the study infants and the average weight infants who were exposed to iodine were much higher than for infants who were not exposed, regardless of birth weight. Between two and four weeks of age, however, the small-for-gestational-age infants continued to have higher levels of TSH when compared with exposed average-weight infants of the same age.
The authors conclude that premature infants tend to have a large uptake of iodine from sources that may be considered routine for some medical procedures. Of particular concern is the fact that this uptake of iodine is associated with significant changes in thyroid function. They recommend avoiding iodine-containing compounds (such as the commonly used povidone-iodine solution) in very-low-birth-weight infants whenever possible.
Parravicini E, et al. Iodine, thyroid function, and very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 1996;98:730-4.
COPYRIGHT 1997 American Academy of Family PhysiciansCOPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group