[Hyperthyroidism and pregnancy. A retrospective multicenter study Nord-Picardie-Champagne. Report of 48 cases]

In 92,130 pregnancies followed between 1980 and 1987, 48 cases of hyperthyroidism were reported including 38 Grave's diseases, 5 toxic adenomas, 4 multinodules goiters. In comparing the results with those mentioned in the literature, a number of conclusions may be reached. In case of hyperthyroidism treated before the pregnancy or discovered at the beginning, there is, in every other case, an aggravation at the end of the first trimester, then a stabilization in the 2nd or 3rd trimester and finally an aggravation in the post-partum period. There is a high rate of abortions (35 p. cent), a delayed intra-uterine growth in half of the cases. The problem of the treatment is of paramount importance; there is no problem with Beta-blockers but the SAT are not without danger: risk of hypothyroidism and fetal goiter, but also risk of maternal hypothyroidism. From the 15th week, the doses should therefore be decreased, and sometimes the treatment discontinued and replaced with Beta-blockers. The best SAT drug during pregnancy is the propylthioracile which is the least likely to cross the fetal barrier. Surgery is only exceptionally indicated. In a woman who is cured from her Grave's disease, recurrences are always possible, and also fetal hyperthyroidism caused by crossing of thyreostimulins immunoglobins, even in case of maternal euthyroidism.