potassium-iodate and Thyrotoxicosis

Congenital thyrotoxicosis is a rare and potentially fatal illness. We report a case in a preterm infant delivered to a mother known to have autoimmune endocrine disease. Diagnosis was difficult because the infant's presenting symptoms and signs closely resembled congenital viral infection with co-existent hepatic dysfunction and coagulopathy. The associated hepatic dysfunction was so severe that liver biopsy was scheduled before the diagnosis emerged. A high degree of clinical suspicion coupled with prenatal identification of pregnancies at risk of complication by congenital thyrotoxicosis is imperative to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Topics: Antithyroid Agents; Carbimazole; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Iodates; Liver Function Tests; Middle Aged; Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune; Potassium Compounds; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Propranolol; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic; Splenomegaly; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyrotoxicosis