A rare cause of unimproved respiratory distress syndrome in a preterm infant: congenital hypothyroidism

The findings of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and thyroid dysfunction of prematurity have a bidirectional relationship. Here we discuss the regression of RDS findings in a preterm infant with congenital hypothyroidism with hypothyroidism treatment. A 910 g female infant, born at 28 weeks' gestation from the twin pregnancy of a 27-year-old mother, was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a diagnosis of prematurity and RDS. The RDS resolved with treatment in the infant's first days. On postnatal day 7, the infant had recurrent RDS and thyroid replacement therapy (levothyronine) was initiated for congenital hypothyroidism. Thyroid function improved with levothyronine treatment and the unexplained RDS findings improved without the need for additional treatment.