Affiliations: B' Laboratory of Microbiology Virus Unit, School of
Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Georgia Gioula, B' Laboratory of
Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
Panepistimioupolis, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece. Tel.: +30 2310 999121; Fax:
+30 2310 999101; E-mail: ggioula@med.auth.gr
Abstract: A premature female infant with intrauterine growth restriction,
microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly and cholestasis developed hyperthyroidism on
the fifth day of life. The mother had also developed hyperthyroidism during
pregnancy. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was positive for rubella virus
in samples from both mother (blood) and neonate (blood, nasopharyngeal swabs,
urine). Immunoglobulin M antibodies for rubella virus were not found while
immunoglobulin G antibodies were detected in mother's and neonate's serum. This
case suggests the potential for a causal link between rubella and
hyperthyroidism.
