[A neonate born to a mother with thyroid disease--safe or at risk?]

The majority of thyroid diseases in pregnant women can be effectively treated and usually do not pose any risk of a fetal and neonatal thyroid dysfunctions that would be higher as compared to general population. A negative effect of a thyroid disease most commonly occurs when the condition is not properly diagnosed and treated or the mother develops an autoimmune disease. Although thyroid dysfunction in neonates associated with maternal thyroid diseases in pregnancy are not common, they may be life-threatening and associated with a risk of irreversible CNS damage. Therefore, appropriate diagnostic and management of maternal thyroid disease throughout pregnancy followed by appropriate management of a newborn is essential in the prevention of undesirable neonatal outcomes.