Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model
Published on: March 17, 2023
Challenges in interpretation of thyroid function tests in pregnant women with autoimmune thyroid disease
Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen1, Sofie Bliddal, Ase Krogh Rasmussen
1Department of Medical Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Physiological changes during gestation are important to be aware of in measurement and interpretation of thyroid function tests in women with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thyroid autoimmune activity is decreasing in pregnancy. Measurement of serum TSH is the first-line screening variable for thyroid dysfunction also in pregnancy. However, using serum TSH for control of treatment of maternal thyroid autoimmunity infers a risk for compromised foetal development. Peripheral thyroid hormone values are highly different among laboratories, and there is a need for laboratory-specific gestational age-related reference ranges. Equally important, the intraindividual variability of the thyroid hormone measurements is much narrower than the interindividual variation (reflecting the reference interval). The best laboratory assessment of thyroid function is a free thyroid hormone estimate combined with TSH. Measurement of antithyroperoxidase and/or TSH receptor antibodies adds to the differential diagnosis of autoimmune and nonautoimmune thyroid diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Graves' Disease I: Introduction
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology
Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology
Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
