TSH estimation is carried out in all newborn babies in Saudi Arabia as a screening test for hypothyroidism. The first babies who were born to COVID 19 positive mothers were noticed to have significantly abnormal high TSH values. All the data and studies on the effect of COVID 19 on thyroid gland are from adult literature. Hence with these results of TSH in the the newborns we designed this observational study to monitor the thyroid functions in infants of COVID 19 positive mothers born in our hospital. The study confirmed presence of abnormal TSH and free thyroxine in these babies at birth and these babies were followed further after that for evidence of thyroid disorders.Results of thyroid functions in the babies who born in the same period of the study to mothers without COVID 19 infection were also recorded.
The thyroid gland has been shown to be a common target for COVID 19 virus. Babies born to mothers positive for COVID 19 infections were noticed to have elevated thyroid stimulating hormone ( TSH ) levels on screening. Thyroid function tests were monitored in these babies to determine presence of temporary or permanent thyroid disorders following COVID 19 infections during pregnancy.