Maternal and neonatal urinary iodine excretion and neonatal TSH in relation to use of antiseptic during caesarean section in an iodine sufficient area.

AIM

To evaluate the influence of topical iodine-containing antiseptics on neonatal TSH in full-term infants born by Caesarean section in an iodine sufficient area.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Urinary iodide excretion (UIE) was estimated in 86 mothers on the second day after delivery by Caesarean section and their 86 full-term neonates. The mothers were divided into two groups according to the use of antiseptic to prepare Cesarean sections: 42 mothers who were prepared with povidone-iodine (Isosept, Bosnalijek) comprised the study group, and 47 mothers who were prepared with alcoholic solution (Skinsept color, Ecolab) formed the control group. Neonatal TSH was measured in whole blood drawn between day 3 and 5 of life, spotted on filter paper using a sensitive fluorometric assay (Delfia).

RESULTS

Maternal and neonatal UIE were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the study group compared to the control group. No significant difference was found for neonatal TSH.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that perinatal iodine exposure of full-term neonates who were born by Caesarean section in an iodine sufficient area did not influence neonatal TSH, although median UIE was higher, suggesting optimal iodine intake during pregnancy. Further research is needed to define a critical value of urinary iodine concentrations in full-term neonates in an iodine sufficient area that may lead to the impairment of thyroid function.