The effect of intraamniotically administered L-thyroxin on pulmonary efficacy of newborns delivered prematurely.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of L-thyroxine on prenatal lung maturation. Forty pregnant women with indications to preterm delivery were divided into two subgroups: A--30 patients suffering from insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, B--10 patients with other pathology of pregnancy. 500 micrograms L-thyroxine "Henning" was injected intraamniotically. The gestational age at the time of initiating the L-thyroxine therapy was: 31-37 weeks in subgroup A, 31-36 in subgroup B and at the time of delivery: 33-38 weeks, 33-36 weeks, respectively. The control group of prematures was selected according to gestational age. The frequency of respiratory distress syndrome and mortality for this reason in the study group of newborns was lower in comparison to the control group. Side effects of L-thyroxine were not observed. We conclude that L-thyroxine accelerates the maturation of fetal lung and is very useful in prenatal medicine.