Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and lung maturation: Does 200mcg TRH provide effective stimulation to the preterm pituitary gland compared with 400mcg?
Date
1995
Authors
Crowther, C.
Haslam, R.
Hiller, J.
McGee, T.
Ryall, R.
Robinson, J.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995; 173(1):719-733
Statement of Responsibility
Caroline Crowther, Ross Haslam, Janet Hiller, Terry McGee, Richard Ryall, Jeffrey Robinson
Conference Name
Abstract
<h4>Objective</h4>Our purpose was to compare the response of the fetal pituitary-thyroid axis to 200 and 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone administered to the mother immediately before delivery with a control group.<h4>Study design</h4>A randomized controlled trial was conducted of 26 women at gestational ages between 24 weeks and 33 weeks 6 days who had received one or more doses of betamethasone who were expected to be delivered within 1 to 4 hours. Women received either 200 or 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone or were in the control group.<h4>Results</h4>Thyroid-stimulating hormone determinations on cord blood had a higher mean level in both treatment groups compared with the control group. No differences were seen in cord blood results between the two treatment groups for thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and prolactin levels. The only other differences found were in a higher level in total thyroxine and a lower level of free thyroxine in the 400 micrograms thyrotropin-releasing hormone group compared with the 200 micrograms group in the 48-hour blood determinations.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Both 200 and 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone provided fetal pituitary stimulation, as reflected in fetal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in cord blood, and both gave significantly higher levels compared with a control group.