Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Hypothyroidism in a Newborn Infant: Treatment with Intravenous L-Thyroxine

Abstract

Gastrointestinal complications of hypothyroidism are well documented and include constipation, obstipation, and abdominal distention, as well as ileus, pseudo-obstruction, tumor-like mass of the intestine, and megacolon. We report herein on a 2-week-old, full-term female infant, who had both necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and congenital hypothyroidism. We further describe the response to therapy with intravenous L-thyroxine. To our knowledge, the patient's course is the first report of intravenous L-thyroxine in the management of congenital hypothyroidism when oral replacement is not an option. The possible causal relationship between NEC and hypothyroidism is discussed.