Endocrine disorders in the neonatal period.

CME EDUCATIONAL

OBJECTIVES

1.Review common endocrine conditions that often present in the newborn and perinatal period.2.Determine the enzymes involved in steroidogenesis.3.Discuss the diagnostic evaluation of hypoglycemia. Many endocrine conditions are unique to the perinatal period. In this article, we review many such conditions, including disorders of the pituitary gland, disorders of sexual differentiation, disorders of glucose homeostasis, disorders of the thyroid gland, and disorders of calcium homeostasis. Rather than serving as a comprehensive resource, the article is meant to serve as a guide for general pediatricians and neonatologists caring for infants with endocrine disorders. Moreover, because the field of pediatric endocrinology continues to evolve, consultation with a pediatric endocrinologist for any child with an endocrinopathy is recommended.