Published online July 1, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 1 July 2005, pp. 168-173 (doi:10.1542/10.1542/peds.2004-2162)

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Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of the Use of the Thyroxine/Thyroxine-Binding Globulin Ratio to Detect Congenital Hypothyroidism of Thyroidal and Central Origin in a Neonatal Screening Program

Caren I. Lanting, MD, PhD^*, David A. van Tijn, MD, J. Gerard Loeber, PhD, Thomas Vulsma, MD, PhD, Jan J. M. de Vijlder, PhD and Paul H. Verkerk, MD, PhD^*

^* Department of Social Pediatrics and Child and Youth Health Care, Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research Prevention and Health, Leiden, Netherlands
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
National Institute for Public Health, Bilthoven, Netherlands

Context. Since the introduction of screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in 1974, the optimal laboratory strategy has been the subject of debate.

Objective. To assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of various types of thyroxine (T₄)-based strategies to screen for CH.

Design, Setting, and Participants. In the Netherlands, since January 1, 1995, a primary T₄ determination with supplemental thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T₄-binding globulin (TBG) measurements has been used. Results were calculated from cumulative findings for 1181079 children screened between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2000.

Main Outcome Measures. Rates of detection of patients with CH of thyroidal origin (CH-T) or CH of central origin (CH-C), false-positive rates, laboratory costs, and costs of initial diagnostic evaluations.

Results. All known infants (n = 393) with CH-T and 92% (n = 66) of infants with CH-C were detected on the basis of low T₄ levels, TSH elevation, and/or low T₄/TBG ratios. If the decision to refer had been based solely on TSH elevation, then 94% of patients with CH-T and none of the patients with CH-C would have been detected. If low T₄ levels (–3.0 SD) and TSH elevation had been used as the criteria for referral, then the rates of detection would have been 96% for CH-T and 31% for CH-C. The false-positive rates for the 3 approaches were 0.5, 3.3, and 4.7 cases per case detected, respectively. The introduction of the T₄/TBG ratio into a program using a primary T₄ with supplemental TSH approach generates an extra cost of $11206 per additional case detected. The average costs to detect 1 patient are comparable for the 3 approaches. In addition, our data revealed a substantially greater prevalence of CH-C than reported previously (1 case per 16404 children, compared with earlier estimates of 1 case per 26000 infants to 1 case per 29000 infants).

Conclusions. The T₄ plus TSH plus TBG approach is a recommendable strategy for neonatal CH screening. It offers outstanding detection of patients with CH-C, in addition to those with CH-T, with acceptable costs.

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Key Words: average cost • cost-effectiveness • congenital hypothyroidism • laboratory approach • marginal cost • screening • thyroid-stimulating hormone • thyroxine • thyroxine-binding globulin

Abbreviations: CH, congenital hypothyroidism • TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone • TBG, thyroxine-binding globulin • T₄, thyroxine • CH-C, congenital hypothyroidism of central origin • CH-T, congenital hypothyroidism of thyroidal origin

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Accepted Nov 16, 2004.

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