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Povidone-iodine in umbilical cord care interferes with neonatal screening for hypothyroidism

  • Neonatology
  • Original Paper
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Abstract

Out of 1346 newborns screened for congenital hypothyroidism, 31 non-hypothyroid infants were summoned because of a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level above 10 μU/ml. False-positive TSH levels were significantly more frequent in the babies treated with povidone-iodine (4.6%) than in those treated with either alcohol or triple dye (0.7%).

Conclusion

Iodine containing solutions should be avoided in umbilical cord care of the newborn

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Abbreviations

TSH :

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

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Lin, CP., Chen, W. & Wu, KW. Povidone-iodine in umbilical cord care interferes with neonatal screening for hypothyroidism. Eur J Pediatr 153, 756–758 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954494

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