Clinical aspects of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid screening in pregnancy. 2014

Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
Division of Endocrinology, "V. Fazzi" Hospital, Lecce, Italy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the peer-reviewed literature on hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid autoimmunity in pregnancy. METHODS We review published studies on thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in pregnancy, the impact of thyroid disease on pregnancy, and discuss implications for screening. RESULTS Overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are responsible for adverse obstetric and neonatal events. Several studies of association suggest that either subclinical hypothyroidism or thyroid autoimmunity increase the risk of complications. One randomized controlled trial showed that pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism benefit from treatment in terms of obstetric and neonatal complications, whereas another study demonstrated no benefit in the intelligence quotient of babies born to women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Thyroid autoimmunity has been associated with increased rate of pregnancy loss, recurrent miscarriage, and preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS Current guidelines agree that overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism need to be promptly treated and that as potential benefits outweigh potential harm, subclinical hypothyroidism also requires substitutive treatment. The chance that women with thyroid autoimmunity may benefit from levothyroxine treatment to improve obstetric outcome is intriguing, but adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed. The issue of universal thyroid screening at the beginning of pregnancy is still a matter of debate, and aggressive case-finding is supported.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006980 Hyperthyroidism Hypersecretion of THYROID HORMONES from the THYROID GLAND. Elevated levels of thyroid hormones increase BASAL METABOLIC RATE. Hyperthyroid,Primary Hyperthyroidism,Hyperthyroidism, Primary,Hyperthyroids
D007037 Hypothyroidism A syndrome that results from abnormally low secretion of THYROID HORMONES from the THYROID GLAND, leading to a decrease in BASAL METABOLIC RATE. In its most severe form, there is accumulation of MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES in the SKIN and EDEMA, known as MYXEDEMA. It may be primary or secondary due to other pituitary disease, or hypothalamic dysfunction. Central Hypothyroidism,Primary Hypothyroidism,Secondary Hypothyroidism,TSH Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Central Hypothyroidisms,Deficiency, TSH,Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,Hormone Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating,Hypothyroidism, Central,Hypothyroidism, Primary,Hypothyroidism, Secondary,Hypothyroidisms,Primary Hypothyroidisms,Secondary Hypothyroidisms,TSH Deficiencies,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiencies
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248 Pregnancy Complications Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases. Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D005260 Female Females
D005307 Fertilization in Vitro An assisted reproductive technique that includes the direct handling and manipulation of oocytes and sperm to achieve fertilization in vitro. Test-Tube Fertilization,Fertilizations in Vitro,In Vitro Fertilization,Test-Tube Babies,Babies, Test-Tube,Baby, Test-Tube,Fertilization, Test-Tube,Fertilizations, Test-Tube,In Vitro Fertilizations,Test Tube Babies,Test Tube Fertilization,Test-Tube Baby,Test-Tube Fertilizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013961 Thyroid Gland A highly vascularized endocrine gland consisting of two lobes joined by a thin band of tissue with one lobe on each side of the TRACHEA. It secretes THYROID HORMONES from the follicular cells and CALCITONIN from the parafollicular cells thereby regulating METABOLISM and CALCIUM level in blood, respectively. Thyroid,Gland, Thyroid,Glands, Thyroid,Thyroid Glands,Thyroids
D015551 Autoimmunity Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities

Related Publications

Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
February 2015, Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
December 1998, Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
January 1962, Atti della Societa italiana di cardiologia,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
September 2011, Clinical obstetrics and gynecology,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
February 2004, Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
January 1954, Archivio "E. Maragliano" di patologia e clinica,
Roberto Negro, and Alex Stagnaro-Green
January 2021, Australian journal of general practice,
Copied contents to your clipboard!