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Thyroid volume and serum calcitonin changes during pregnancy.
G Vannucchi1,2, D Covelli3, B Vigo3
1Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. guiava@libero.it.
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|February 24, 2017
Summary
Thyroid volume (TV) increases during pregnancy, returning to normal postpartum. Serum calcitonin (CT) levels remain stable, suggesting iodine supplementation may help manage thyroid changes during gestation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Thyroidology
Background:
- Pregnancy significantly alters thyroid homeostasis, affecting thyroid function and volume (TV).
- Calcitonin (CT) and its gene-related peptide are implicated in successful implantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in thyroid volume (TV) and serum calcitonin (CT) levels throughout pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- 155 pregnant women were monitored from the first trimester through 6 months postpartum.
- Assessments included clinical, biochemical, and sonographic evaluations at multiple time points.
Main Results:
- Thyroid volume (TV) significantly increased by the third trimester, normalizing postpartum.
- Serum calcitonin (CT) levels showed no significant changes during pregnancy.
- TV correlated with BMI and gestational weight gain; no association found between CT and weight or TV.
Conclusions:
- Serum CT levels do not change with the transient increase in TV during pregnancy.
- Thyroid autoimmunity/hypertropinemia affects 3-5% of pregnant women.
- Iodine supplementation may be beneficial for limiting TSH increase and thyroid enlargement during pregnancy.
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