Maternal Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Research Articles

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: A marker of impaired child development?

We recently reported that 5 year old children of women with antibodies against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO-Ab) during pregnancy, but normal thyroid function, are found to be at risk for impaired development (after correction for confounding variables such as maternal educational level or maternal depression). Until now the presence of maternal TPO-Ab during gestation was not considered to be harmful. The children of TPO-Ab antibody positive mothers however had an increased risk for low scores at the general cognitive scale of the McCarthy scales: O.R. = 10.5, 95% CI = 3 – 34. However, it might be questioned whether the scores of infant cognitive functioning at preschool age are not impaired by other factors which could not yet be taken into account.Therefore, in order to study if this relation between the mothers condition with regard to thyroid peroxidase during pregnancy and child development can also be found at an earlier age, we now assessed 240 infants at nine months with the Bayley scales. The first results show a significant difference on the motor scale. The group of 18 children whose mothers had elevated TPO-Ab titers during pregnancy had a significantly lower mean score than the children of TPO-Ab negative mothers (mean difference 11.5, 95% CI 3 – 19). Children of TPO-Ab antibody positive mothers also had lower scores on the mental and nonverbal scale (mean difference respectively 5.9 and 5.6), which did not reach significance levels. Moreover we found that the titer of TPO-Ab during gestation was of importance: only children of women who had elevated titers both at 12 and 32 weeks' gestation (the titer declines physiologically during pregnancy) had significantly different scores.This study indicates again that elevated titers of maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy may be seen as a risk factor for developmental delay of the children.

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: A marker of impaired child development?

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: A marker of impaired child development?

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: a marker of impaired child development?

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: a marker of impaired child development?

Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies during pregnancy: a marker of impaired child development?

Women with antibodies against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase [TPO-Ab; formerly microsomal antibodies (MsAb)] are at particular risk for developing postpartum thyroid dysfunction; the latter is significantly associated with postpartum depression. Although the negative effect of postpartum maternal depression on child development is well documented, the consequences of elevated titers of TPO-Ab during pregnancy and subsequent postpartum thyroid dysfunction on child development are not known. In a prospective study of a cohort of 293 pregnant women, the occurrence of TPO-Ab during gestation, thyroid dysfunction, and depression was investigated. Five years after delivery, child development was assessed in 230 children of the original cohort using the Dutch translation of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Children of women with TPO-Ab during late gestation (n = 19, with normal thyroid function) had significantly lower scores (by t test) on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities than antibody-negative women. The difference on the General Cognitive Scale, which reflects IQ scores, was substantial (10.5 points; t = 2.8; P = 0.005). After correction for possibly confounding variables, maternal TPO-Ab during gestation was found to be the most important factor related to the scores on the General Cognitive Scale (odds ratio = 10.5; 95% confidence interval = 3-34; P = 0.003). We conclude that children of pregnant women who had elevated titers of TPO-Ab but normal thyroid function are at risk for impaired development.