Limitations of new thyroid function tests in pregnancy

Abstract

Sensitive immunoradiometric assays (IRMA) for TSH and radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits for free thyroid hormones (fT 4, fT 3) are becoming increasingly used for routine thyroid investigations. We have assessed these tests in 93 euthyroid pregnant women. Mean fT 4 and fT 3 values decreased with gestation by 24–27% and 14–35%, respectively, using several analogue RIA kits. Some patients had free hormone values which fell below the reference range derived from non-pregnant euthyroid patients. By contrast, the fT 4 concentrations measured by direct equilibrium dialysis fell by only 16% with all values within the reference range. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels (non-fasting) did not correlate with fT 4 and fT 3 but a spurious effect of serum albumin levels on the free hormone kits was suggested. TSH results showed that the majority of subjects had lower values measured by IRMA than by RIA. Three patients had basal TSH (IRMA) below the mean detection limit of the assay; this could have been falsely interpreted as indicating hyperthyroidism. We conclude that, as with longer established thyroid function tests, special care must be taken in interpreting results of these new thyroid function tests in pregnancy.