Correlation between the TSHRc-Asp727Glu polymorphism and plasma thyroid stimulating hormone levels in Romanian...

To analyze the influence of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and/or the Asp727Glu polymorphism on the severity and perinatal outcome of preeclampsia.

Forty-nine women with preeclampsia and 58 normal pregnant women were genotyped for the TSHRc-Asp727Glu polymorphism using PCR-RFLP methods. The plasma TSH levels were measured by ELISA method.

Fourteen (77.78%) women of 18 pregnant women with abnormal TSH levels had preeclampsia compared to 35 (39.33%) of 89 pregnant women with normal TSH levels who had preeclampsia (OR 5.4, p = 0.003). The mean TSH levels were 2.13 ± 1.44 μU/ml, 2.47 ± 2.03 μU/ml and 4.27 ± 2.75 μU/ml in women with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), mild and severe preeclampsia, respectively. OR for PIH and mild preeclampsia was 1.08 (p = 1) and 9.45 (p = 0.06), respectively, in association with the Asp/Asp genotype. All women with severe preeclampsia had the Asp/Asp genotype. The risk for preeclampsia in association with TSH > 4 μU/ml and Asp/Asp genotype is 20.8 (p < 0.01). Preeclamptic women with TSH levels > 4 μU/ml and the Asp/Asp genotype delivered earlier (weeks, 34.92 ± 4.33 vs. 36.6 ± 3.21, p = 0.3) neonates with lower birth weight (grams, 2361.54 ± 1155.81 vs. 3000 ± 1072.38, p = 0.3) than preeclamptic women with TSH levels  < 4 μU/ml and the Asp/Glu genotype.

Higher TSH levels and/or the TSHRc-Asp727Glu polymorphism represent risk factors for preeclampsia and could be correlated with the severity of preeclampsia.