ABSTRACT Objectives: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) can be permanent (PCH) or transient (TCH). While the importance of thyroxine in myelination of the brain is undisputed, the benefits to neurodevelopmental outcomes of TCH treatment are controversial. Our objectives were to determine predictive factors for PCH and verify its prevalence changes over time. Subjects and methods: A total of 165 children were evaluated at 3 years of age to verify the diagnosis of PCH. 130 were submitted to a two-step cluster analysis, with the aim of grouping them into homogeneous clusters. The mean incidence of PCH and TCH was calculated from 2004 to 2010 and 2011 to 2015. Results: Sixty-six children were diagnosed with PCH, and 99 were diagnosed with TCH. Eighty-one percent of PCH children and all TCH children with thyroid imaging had glands in situ. Eighty children (61.5%) were in Cluster 1, 8 children (6.2%) were in Cluster 2 and 42 children (32.3%) were in Cluster 3. No children had PCH in Cluster 1, while 87.5% of children in Cluster 2 and all children in Cluster 3 had PCH. The most important predictor for PCH was the initial serum TSH, which was marginally higher in importance than the blood spot TSH, followed by the initial serum free T4. The mean incidence of PCH (odds ratio: 1.95, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.95, p < 0.0001) and TCH (odds ratio 1.33, 95%, CI 1.02 to 1.77, p = 0,038) increased over time. Conclusions: The most important PCH predictors are the initial serum TSH and the blood spot TSH. The mean incidence of both PCH and TCH in our series increased.

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess the evolution to permanent or transient conditions in children with positive neonatal TSH tests in Sergipe, Brazil, from 2004 to 2010. Subjects and methods Out of 193,794 screened newborns, 713 presented a neonatal TSH level higher than the local cutoff (5.2 µU/mL). From the confirmatory serum TSH values, the children were diagnosed with initial congenital hypothyroidism (CH) or suspect CH. From the evolution, they were classified as permanent CH, hyperthyrotropinemia, or transient TSH elevation. The mean incidence of each final condition was calculated for the total period of time. Results The initial diagnosis included 37 CH (18.1%) and 167 suspect CH (81.9%) cases. The final diagnosis included 46 cases of permanent CH (22.5%), 56 of hyperthyrotropinemia (27.5%), and 102 of transient TSH elevation (50.0%). Out of the 37 cases of initial CH, 23 (62.2%) had permanent CH, nine (24.3%) had hyperthyrotropinemia, and five (13.5%) had transient TSH elevation. Out of the 167 suspect CH cases, 23 (13.8%) had permanent CH, 47 (28.1%) had hyperthyrotropinemia and 97 (58.1%) had transient TSH elevation. The mean incidence after the follow up was 1:4,166 for permanent CH, 1:3,448 for hyperthyrotropinemia, and 1:1,887 for transient TSH elevation. Eighty-six percent of the children with an initial diagnosis of CH and 41.9% with suspect CH had a permanent condition (CH or hyperthyrotropinemia). Conclusions The follow-up of children with an initial diagnosis of CH or suspect CH is necessary to determine whether the disorder is permanent because predicting the evolution of the condition is difficult.

Objetivos: A fenilcetonúria (PKU) foi a primeira causa metabólica hereditária de retardamento mental para a qual foi desenvolvido um programa de triagem em recém-nascidos (NBS). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do NBS para a PKU e o manejo dos casos em Sergipe (SE), Brasil.Materiais e métodos: Revisamos as concentrações de fenilalanina no filtro de papel coletado do calcanhar (PKUneo) de 43.449 recém-nascidos, suas concentrações de sangue obtidas por punção venosa em indivíduos com PKUneo anormal, a idade das crianças em diversas fases do programa, a incidência da doença no período de janeiro de 2007 a junho de 2008 e o controle metabólico dos pacientes.Resultados: A cobertura da NBS/SE foi de 78,93%. A idade das crianças era de 10 ± 7 dias na coleta de PKUneo. Doze crianças foram reconvocadas com base no ponto de corte de PKUneo aos 28 ± 13 dias de idade. Destas, as concentrações de fenilalanina por venipunctura foram normais em cinco. A incidência da hiperfenilalaninemia foi 1/43.449 e de PKU foi 1/8.690 (5 casos), e um indivíduo suspeito foi a óbito. Outro óbito ocorreu na coorte em um caso de PKU confirmado. O tratamento para a PKU começou com 51 ± 12 dias. Nos quatro pacientes sob restrição de fenilalanina alimentar, o controle metabólico foi frequentemente difícil.Conclusões: PKU NBS/SE apresenta uma cobertura satisfatória e ponto de corte adequado para reconvocação e diagnóstico, mas o início do tratamento é atrasado e o controle no seguimento é frequentemente inadequado.

Objectives: Phenylketonuria (PKU) was the first inherited metabolic disease known to cause mental retardation for which a newborn screening program (NBS) was developed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PKU NBS and the management of cases in the northeastern Brazilian state of Sergipe (SE).Materials and methods: We reviewed the phenylalanine concentrations in filter-paper collected from the heel (PKUneo) of 43,449 newborns; blood concentrations obtained by venipuncture in the subjects with abnormal PKUneo; the children’s age at several phases of the program, the incidence of the disease from January 2007 to June 2008; and metabolic control of the patients.Results: The coverage of NBS/SE was 78.93%. The children’s age was 10 ± 7 days at PKUneo collection. Twelve children were recalled based on the PKUneo cutoff value at 28 ± 13 days. From these, the concentrations of phenylalanine collected by venipuncture were normal in five children. The incidence of hyperphenylalaninemia was 1/43,449, and of PKU was 1/8,690 (5 cases). One suspected subject died. Another death occurred in the cohort, in a confirmed PKU case. PKU treatment began within 51 ± 12 days of life. In the four patients under dietary phenylalanine restriction, metabolic control was often difficult.Conclusions: PKU NBS/SE has satisfactory coverage and adequate cutoff for recalling patients and diagnosis, but the onset of treatment is delayed, and follow-up metabolic control is frequently inadequate.

Avaliamos as concentrações do TSH em papel-filtro colhido no calcanhar (TSHneo) de 48.039 crianças triadas do programa de triagem neonatal (PTN) para o hipotireoidismo congênito (HC) de Sergipe, as concentrações de TSH, T4 total e T4 livre colhidas em sangue periférico nas crianças convocadas suspeitas de HC, a idade nas diversas fases do programa, a cobertura e a freqüência do PTN de janeiro de 2005 a agosto de 2006, comparando-as com dados da literatura. Utilizamos para análise os seguintes parâmetros: média, mediana, coeficiente de variação e distribuição de freqüência. A idade da criança por ocasião da coleta em papel filtro no calcanhar foi 10 ± 9 dias (média ± desvio-padrão) e a idade na reali-zação do ensaio do TSHneo foi de 31 ± 13 dias. Em 2005, a cobertura do PTN, para o interior e para a capital de Sergipe, foi de 77% e 73%, respectivamente. Verificamos que em 99,484% das crianças triadas as concentrações do TSH coletado em papel-filtro encontravam-se entre 0,01 e 5,20 µU/mL. As concentrações do TSH decrescem com o aumento da idade até estabilizar entre 11 e 15 dias de vida. Foram convocadas 248 crianças a partir do TSH coletado em papel-filtro (1/194). Na convocação, as concentrações do TSH, T4 e T4 livre coletado por punção venosa estavam normais em 119 crianças (1/404). A freqüência de HC suspeito foi de 1/485 (99 casos), de HC foi de 1/6.005 (8 casos) e de hipotiroxinemia foi de 1/16.013 (3 casos). A terapia para o HC foi iniciada com 51 ± 12 dias.

It was evaluated the concentration of TSH in blood spot (TSHneo) of 48.039 children included in the Neonatal Screening Program (NSP) for Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) of Sergipe (SE), a state in the northeast of Brazil. It was also evaluated the concentration of serum TSH, total T4 and free T4 in the recalled children suspicious of having CH, their age in several phases of the program, the covering and frequency of the NSP in the cases from January 2005 to August 2006, comparing them with literature data. The following parameters were used or the analysis: mean, standard deviation, median, coefficient of variation and frequency distribution. The children's age at the collection in filter-paper specimen was 10 ± 9 days (Mean±SD) and the TSHneo execution assay was done in the period of 31 ± 13 days. In 2005 the covering by the NSP was about 77% in the countryside and 73% in Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe. It was verified that in 99,484% of the children included in the screening, the TSHneo varied from 0,01 to 5,20µU/ml, decreasing according to the age and stabilizing when they were between 11 and 15 days. 248 children were recalled from the TSHneo (1/194).The concentrations of TSH, T4 and free T4 collected by venous puncture were normal in 119 children (1/404). The frequency of suspected CH was 1/485 (99 cases), of CH was 1/6005 (8 cases) and of hypothyroxinemia was 1/16013 (3 cases). Therapy for CH began within 51 ± 12 days.