Thirty-six preterm infants of less than 34 weeks of gestation with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) were studied. Eighteen of them were treated with intravenous thyroxine (T₄) and compared with 18 control prematures to evaluate the effect of postnatal T₄ administration on the course of IRDS. After treatment, serum T₄ levels were similar to those of healthy term infants. No statistically significant effect on mortality rate, duration of mechanical ventilation (p > 0.3), need of high oxygen environment (p > 0.5) and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p > 0.2) was observed between the two groups. These observations show that postnatal use of T₄ does not carry any benefit for preterm infants with IRDS.

Fifty-eight preterm neonates evaluated by real-time sonographic scanning of the head were prospectively studied. They were divided into three groups: 13 with peri-intraven-tricular hemorrhage (PIVH) alone, 19 with subsequent ventricular dilatation and 26 control infants without ultrasound evidence of PIVH. At 12 months of age detailed neurological follow-up assessment was carried out. Five (8.6%) patients had major handicaps, 34 minor neurological abnormalities. The severity of the PIVH correlated with the neurologic outcome (p < 0.02). The incidence of major handicaps was significantly greater in the group with ventricular dilatation (p < 0.03). Among the infants with PIVH, major handicaps were only present if associated with grade III and IV. Severe posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation increased the risk for major handicaps. Adverse neurological sequelae at follow-up appeared to be attributable to the extent of PIVH and aggravated by severe ventricular enlargement.

This study concerns the prognostic value of total cord-blood CK-BB activity measured with a new method in preterm infants at risk of PIVH. Twenty-six patients with gestational age less than 36 weeks were studied. The presence of PIVH was proved by either ultrasound scans or autopsy. Total CK-BB values in cord-blood of infants who developed PIVH were significantly higher than those of patients without cerebral bleeding (P less than 0.001).

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