ABSTRACT

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine kisspeptin levels in healthy newborns and to show whether there is significant difference kisspeptin levels between males and females in hypothyroid newborns and healthy term newborns.

Subjects and Methods: This study was performed prospectively. The newborns were admitted to the Erzurum Atatürk University Medical Faculty Research Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology and Neonatal polyclinic between July and November 2014. In hypothyroid newborns, blood sampling was performed 14-30 days after birth. Twelve hypothyroid newborns, 14 premature newborns and 36 term newborns (as control group) were included. Plasma specimens were investigated using enzyme-immune assay. Significance was set at p < 0.01.

Results: In the hypothyroid group, minimum kisspeptin level was 0.48 ng/mL, maximum value 0.78 ng/mL, mean 0.61 ± 0.08 ng/mL. In the premature group, minimum kisspeptin level was 0.27 ng/mL, maximum level 0.97 ng/mL, mean 0.64 ± 0.17 ng/mL. In the control group of healthy term newborns, minimum kisspeptin level was 0.25 ng/mL, maximum level 0.99 ng/mL, mean 0.49 ± 0.17 ng/mL. A statistically significant difference in kisspeptin levels was determined between the hypothyroid and control groups (p = 0.004). There was also a significant difference in kisspeptin levels between the premature and control groups (p = 0.010).

Conclusion: Kisspeptin may be indicating various play role clarification in the newborn period of various changes. A statistically significance in kisspeptin levels was determined between the hypothyroid and control groups and also between the premature and control groups. Kisspeptin levels may point to various clinical states in the newborn.