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Prevalence of pregnancy and postpartum thyroid dysfunction in a homogeneous population of Spain

R V García-Mayor1, F Cordido, F Valle-Inclán

  • 1Endocrine Division, Hospital Xeral-Cies of Vigo, Spain.

To determine the prevalence of pregnancy and postpartum thyroid dysfunction in the Spanish population, 691 women divided into six cohorts were studied. Biochemical hypothyroidism was observed in 9.4%, 4.4%, 1.9%, 4.6% and 4.8% at the first trimester of pregnancy, at delivery and at the second, fourth and sixth to twelfth postpartum months, respectively. Biochemical hyperthyroidism was observed in 6.7%, 0.8%, 1.9%, 4.6% and 2.4% in the same cohorts of subjects. Thyroiditis was observed in 4%, 0%, 0.6%, 6.2% and 7.3% in the cohorts studied. No depression or psychological alterations were detected either in pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Our data suggest that if screening for thyroid dysfunction is to be recommended in the postpartum period, this must be based on biochemical parameters.

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