Objective: To study the effect of maternal Hashimoto's disease (an autoimmune thyroid disease) on intellectual development of infants.
Methods: From July 2001 to June 2003, 21 infants born by mothers suffered from Hashimoto's disease were followed up with provincial neonatal disease screening network system. Their thyroid function was assessed and their mental development was evaluated with Gesell development schedules.
Result: (1) Among the 21 infants, 8 showed normal thyroid function, 11 showed hyperthyrotropinemia, 2 cases had congenital hypothyroidism, which showed significant differences from those born by healthy mothers. (2) The mental and psychomotor development of infants whose mothers suffered from Hashimoto's disease lagged behind those with the healthy mothers (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Maternal Hashimoto's disease may affects infants' thyroid function and mental development.