Crowther, C.Haslam, R.Hiller, J.McGee, T.Ryall, R.Robinson, J.2006-06-242006-06-241995American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1995; 173(1):719-7330002-93781097-6868http://hdl.handle.net/2440/7909<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.enPituitary GlandFetal BloodHumansProlactinThyrotropinTriiodothyronineThyroxineGestational AgePregnancyDose-Response Relationship, DrugAdultFemaleThyrotropin-Releasing HormoneJournal article0030005351001995075910.1016/0002-9378(95)90329-1A1995RX497000082-s2.0-002912768069357Crowther, C. [0000-0002-9079-4451]Hiller, J. [0000-0002-8532-4033]Robinson, J. [0000-0002-4515-6039]