The use of thyrotrophin releasing hormone to enhance fetal lung maturity

Abstract

A number of strategies have been developed to address the problems of prematurity. These include tocolysis, postnatal surfactant therapy and antenatal administration of corticosteroids to the mother. In spite of this, respiratory distress syndrome and its related complications are still a major cause of both mortality and morbidity in premature infants. There is good scientific evidence to suggest that thyroid hormones are involved in the process of fetal lung maturity. Antenatal thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) will cross the placenta and stimulate the fetal pituitary-thyroid axis. A number of randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that when TRH is administered in combination with corticosteroids to mothers with threatened preterm delivery, it will reduce the incidence of respiratory problems in the newborn. Further work is required to confirm this beneficial effect and to elucidate the optimal timing, dose and frequency of TRH more fully. Potential adverse effects to the mother and fetus need to be more closely investigated, including long-term follow-up studies. Show more