Screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Russia

We consider the criteria for diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and discuss the possible reasons of this disease. The necessity of screening for CH is justified; the principles and stages of its holding are presented. We give the recommendations for the treatment of CH and discuss the typical errors allowable during the screening. As a whole, 18-year screening of newborns for CH has allowed to specify the prevalence of the disease (1:4000), revealed about 8 thousand children with CH, and eliminated cases of cretinism caused by late diagnosis of CH. Screening is spent today in all regions of Russia with coverage of 92-95 % of newborns.

congenital thyreoid deficiency, transient hypothyroidism, screening of newborn child, thyrotrophic hormone, L- thyroxin