[Simple goiter and hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Diagnosis--monitoring--treatment]

37 cases of maternal hypothyroidism in 92,130 births (0.04%) were studied: post surgical (40%) or congenital (35%) hypothyroidism or after-effects of thyroiditis (11%) or of undetermined etiology (14%). The past history of these women, shows a sterility (11%) and spontaneous abortions (18%). Substitute hormonal therapy was usually well monitored, with almost always a stable thyroid function. These pregnancies progressed without any specific problems, the children's birth weight was normal and only one presented a hypothyroidism. 94 cases of goiters (0.10%) were reported including 1 out of 3 received an inhibiting hormonal therapy. Here also the pregnancies developed without problems and there was no difference with regards to the stability of the goiter and the development of the pregnancy between treated and non-treated women. The authors insist on strict monitoring of the treatment with assays of FT3, FT4, TSH and anti-thyroid antibodies, performed one or twice per trimester. The interest of thyroid hormones assays in the amniotic fluid or the blood cord may occur.