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Antithyroid antibodies underlying thyroid abnormalities and miscarriage or pregnancy induced hypertension
B Lejeune1, J P Grun, P de Nayer
1Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
Objective:
To assess whether asymptomatic abnormalities, including thyroid auto-antibodies, were associated with an abnormal miscarriage rate or a poor obstetric outcome.
Design:
Prospective study of thyroid auto-antibodies and thyroid function in an unselected obstetric population.
Setting:
Saint-Pierrie Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
Subjects:
Seven hundred and thirty consecutive pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic.
Main Outcome Measures:
Miscarriage and pregnancy induced hypertension.
Results:
Elevated antithyroperoxidase (TPO-Ab) and antithyroglobulin (TG-Ab) antibody titres are associated with an increased miscarriage rate. Also, asymptomatic thyroid abnormalities, mainly abnormal echo-structure but not antithyroid antibodies, are associated with pregnancy induced hypertension.
Conclusion:
The presence of thyroid auto-antibodies during pregnancy constitutes a marker of increased risk of miscarriage and poor obstetric prognosis.