Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and lung maturation: Does 200mcg TRH provide effective stimulation to the preterm pituitary gland compared with 400mcg?

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>Our purpose was to compare the response of the fetal pituitary-thyroid axis to 200 and 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone administered to the mother immediately before delivery with a control group.<h4>Study design</h4>A randomized controlled trial was conducted of 26 women at gestational ages between 24 weeks and 33 weeks 6 days who had received one or more doses of betamethasone who were expected to be delivered within 1 to 4 hours. Women received either 200 or 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone or were in the control group.<h4>Results</h4>Thyroid-stimulating hormone determinations on cord blood had a higher mean level in both treatment groups compared with the control group. No differences were seen in cord blood results between the two treatment groups for thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and prolactin levels. The only other differences found were in a higher level in total thyroxine and a lower level of free thyroxine in the 400 micrograms thyrotropin-releasing hormone group compared with the 200 micrograms group in the 48-hour blood determinations.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Both 200 and 400 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone provided fetal pituitary stimulation, as reflected in fetal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in cord blood, and both gave significantly higher levels compared with a control group.