Screening for thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid disorders are the second most common endocrine disorders during pregnancy after diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study involving 2000 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. Women were screened by serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) estimation by chemiluminescent method after informed consent. Estimation of free T3 (FT3) and free T4 (FT4) were advised if the screening test was abnormal. All pregnant women were followed throughout the pregnancy, labor and postpartum period to note any adverse feto-maternal outcome. Results were analyzed by Chi square test. Results: 82.5% of women belong to age group 21-30 years. 45% women were primigravida and 55% were multigravida. Serum TSH level was normal in 94.2% women. 3.5% women had sub clinical hypothyroidism, 0.9% women had overt hypothyroidism and 0.6% had overt hyperthyroidism. Of all women diagnosed of having hypothyroidism 92% had absence of any high risk factor and 85.7% of women diagnosed of having hyperthyroidism had no high risk factor for thyroid disorders. Conclusion: Even though universal screening for thyroid dysfunction is not yet a recommendation, it should be considered.