Iodine status in pregnancy

The iodine status of 429 pregnant women in different trimesters from the lower socio-economic strata of the urban slums of Bombay was assessed using clinical and biochemical parameters. The total goitre rate (TGR) of 45% and a visible goitre rate (VGR) of 3.04% was observed. There was an evident increase in the TGR during the months of pregnancy. The urinary iodine excretion pattern revealed mild iodine deficiency. 55% of the women had urinary iodine excretion less than 5 mcg/dl with 13.2% having less than 2 mcg/dl. Elevated T3 and T4 levels were observed in 64 and 40% respectively of the women surveyed, while only 1.8% of them had TSH levels higher than the normal range. No significant difference in the levels of thyroid hormone (T3 or T4) was noted between the euthyroid and goitrous subjects. The mean TSH levels in euthyroid women were however significantly higher than those with signs of goitre.