A premature female infant with intrauterine growth restriction, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly and cholestasis developed hyperthyroidism on the fifth day of life. The mother had also developed hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was positive for rubella virus in samples from both mother (blood) and neonate (blood, nasopharyngeal swabs, urine). Immunoglobulin M antibodies for rubella virus were not found while immunoglobulin G antibodies were detected in mother's and neonate's serum. This case suggests the potential for a causal link between rubella and hyperthyroidism.
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