Background:Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is most common preventable cause of mental retardation in children. Cord blood Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (CBTSH) level is an accepted screening tool for CH.Objectives:To study CBTSH profile in neonates born at tertiary care referral center and to analyze the influence of maternal and neonatal factors on their levels.Design:Cross retrospective sectional study.Methods:Study population included 979 neonates (males = 506 to females = 473). The CBTSH levels were estimated using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on Cobas analyzer. Kit based cut-offs of TSH level were used for analysis. All neonates with abnormal CBSTH levels, were started on levothyroxine supplementation 10 μg/Kg/day and TSH levels were reassessed as per departmental protocol.Results:The mean CBTSH was 7.82 μIU/mL (Range 0.112 to 81.4, SD = 5.48). The mean CBTSH level was significantly higher in first order neonates, neonates delivered by assisted vaginal delivery and normal delivery, delivered at term or preterm, neonates with APGAR score <5 and those needing advanced resuscitation after birth. The CBTSH level >16.10 and <1.0 μIU/mL was found in 4.39 % and 1.02 % neonates respectively. The prevalence rate of CBTSH level >16.1 μIU/mL was significantly higher in neonates delivered by assisted vaginal delivery and normal delivery, term and preterm neonates, APAGR score of <5, presence of fetal distress, need for resuscitation beyond initial steps and in those with birth weight of <1.5 Kg. Three neonates were confirmed to have CH after retesting of TSH level.Conclusions:The CBTSH estimation is an easy, non-invasive method for screening for CH. The cutoff level of CB TSH (μIU/mL) >16.10 and <1.0 led to a recall of 5.41% of neonates which is practicable given the scenario in our Country. The mode of delivery and perinatal stress factors have a significant impact on CBTSH levels and any rise to be seen in the light of these factors. The prevalence rate of CH after recall was ~3 in 1000 live births.

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Kidney biopsy is one of the most important tools in the assessment of kidney disease as histopathological diagnosis promotes evidence-based practice in Nephrology. This study included 271 consecutive percutaneous kidney biopsies (145 males and 126 females) performed at EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India, from September 2009 to March 2016. Among the biopsy-proven renal diseases (BPRD), primary glomerular diseases (PGD) were the most common (77.78%) followed by secondary glomerular diseases (SGD) (12.22%) and tubulointerstitial diseases (10%). The IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was the most common PGD and majority had mesangial hypercellularity (M1) (93.54%), tubular atrophy (T1 or T2 68.25%), and the most common pattern was M1, E0, S0, and T1, suggesting that patients of Indian subcontinent have aggressive disease type, unlike western literature. The focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the second most common PGD and the majority were of not otherwise specified type. FSGS, membranous nephropathy and minimal change disease were the three most common causes for PGD causing nephrotic syndrome. Diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis were the two most common biopsy-proven SGDs. Among the patients of diabetes mellitus who underwent renal biopsy with suspicion of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD), 58.33% had NDRD, 16.67% had DN+ NDRD, and 26.67% had DN alone. This study shows the changing pattern BPRD in comparison to earlier studies. This study also confirms the aggressive nature of IgAN in Indian patients and underlines the importance of renal biopsy in patients of DM.

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