Thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies association with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics
• Thyroidology
• Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

Background:

• Thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are common in women of reproductive age.
• These conditions are linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between thyroid dysfunction, autoimmunity, and the incidence and severity of pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 48 patients with hypertensive disorders (gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, eclampsia) and 50 normotensive controls.
• Blood samples were analyzed for thyroid hormones, TSH, and autoantibodies using electrochemiluminescence and ELISA methods.
• Participants were nulliparous, matched for age and gestational age, with no prior history of hypertensive or thyroid disorders.

Main Results:

• Hypertensive patients exhibited significantly lower triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations (mean 152.5 ± 48.93 ng/dL) compared to normotensive controls (mean 175.36 ± 58.07 ng/dL).
• Anti-thyroid peroxidase (Anti-TPO) antibody concentration was higher in the control group (6.07 ± 9.02 IU/mL) than in the hypertensive group (2.27 ± 2.94 IU/mL).

Conclusions:

• Low T3 levels were significantly associated with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
• The severity of preeclampsia and eclampsia was not correlated with thyroid function tests or autoimmunity markers.