Abstract
During the postpartum period, there is exacerbation of immune reactivity leading to autoimmune diseases. Two distinct thyroid autoimmune disorders, i.e., postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) and Graves’ disease (GD) may be seen 3–12 months after delivery. PPT is more common and may have various clinical presentations ranging from hypo-or hyperthyroidism per se to transient hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism. Although many patients attain euthyroidism in the second year postpartum, chances of recurrent thyroiditis is very high following later pregnancies. In addition, long term follow-ups of patients with PPT have shown permanent hypothyroidism in about 50% of these patients. GD occurs less frequently than PPT, but must be distinguished from the thyrotoxic phase of the latter. More severe clinical presentations, high values of radioiodine thyroid uptake, T3 to T4 ratio and thyroid blood flow in Doppler ultrasonagraphy and presence of TSH receptor antibody are in favor of diagnosis of GD. Specialized care of the thyrotoxic breastfeeding mother has been emphasized in this review.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
