Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
Thyroid autoimmunity and abortion: a prospective study in women undergoing in vitro fertilization
A F Muller1, A Verhoeff, M J Mantel
1Department of Internal Medicine, Zuiderziekenhuis Rotterdam, The Netherlands. muller@inw3.azr.nl
Objective:
To determine whether an association exists between the presence of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies before pregnancy and miscarriage in women without a history of habitual abortion.
Design:
Prospective study and nested case-control study.
Setting:
Inner-city teaching hospital.
Patient(S):
Four hundred eighty-nine women in an IVF program.
Intervention(S):
In the prospective study, we measured levels of TPO antibodies and TSH. In the nested case-control study, we also measured levels of anticardiolipin antibodies.
Main Outcome Measure:
Miscarriage.
Result(S):
One hundred seventy-three women were observed, of whom 31% (54/173) became pregnant. Pregnancy occurred in 48% (12/25) of the antibody-positive women and in 28% (42/148) of the antibody-negative women. Among those who became pregnant, miscarriage occurred in 33% (4/12) of TPO antibody-positive women and in 19% (8/42) of TPO antibody-negative women. The TSH level was abnormal (<0.2 microIU/mL) in only one of the TPO antibody-positive women who miscarried. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies was not associated with miscarriage.
Conclusion(S):
No association was found between the presence of TPO antibodies before pregnancy and miscarriage in women without a history of habitual abortion. The presence of TPO antibodies did not adversely affect a woman's chances of becoming pregnant.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...