Thyroglobulin as an adjunct biomarker for assessing thyroid function during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Reproductive Health
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Pregnancy places significant demands on maternal iodine stores.
• Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a potential biomarker for iodine status and thyroid dysfunction.
• Assessing thyroid function during pregnancy is crucial due to physiological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate thyroglobulin (Tg) as an adjunct biomarker for thyroid function assessment in pregnancy.
• To determine the impact of combining Tg with thyroid function tests in identifying pregnant women at risk for thyroid disorders.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 250 pregnant women was recruited from five centers.
• Blood samples were analyzed using immunoassay techniques.
• Data were analyzed using SPSS v.21, comparing TSH alone versus TSH and Tg assays.

Main Results:

• TSH assay alone identified 14% of participants with thyroid dysfunction.
• Combining TSH and Tg assays identified 20% of participants.
• The combined approach revealed a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism (16%) than hyperthyroidism (5.6%) in the study group.

Conclusions:

• Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a valuable marker during pregnancy.
• Tg can reflect iodine status and identify early thyroid dysfunction.
• Combining Tg with standard thyroid function tests enhances the detection of thyroid disorders in pregnant women.