Risk-based screening for thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy

Objective. we conducted the study to see the incidence of thyroid dysfunction in women with obstetrical high-risk factors. methods. we retrospectively reviewed medical charts of high-risk pregnant women who had examination for thyroid function during pregnancy. women were divided according to clinical presentation,symptoms of thyroid disease and those with a personal history of thyroid disease (thyroid disease,n = 32),intrauterine growth restriction (iugr,n = 115),diabetes mellitus (diabetes,n = 115),hypertension (n = 63),intrauterine fetal death (iufd,n = 52),and placental abruption (abruption,n = 15). the incidence of thyroid dysfunctions including hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism was compared. results. the overall prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was 24.7%. the incidence of thyroid dysfunction in each group was as follows: 31% in thyroid disease,25% in iugr,30% in diabetes,27% in hypertension,12% in iufd,and 7% in abruption. except iufd,the incidence was not statistically significant from the group of thyroid disease (thyroid disease versus iufd,p = 0.03 by χ 2 test). thyroid disease represented for only 10% of all thyroid dysfunctions. conclusion. testing of women with a personal history or current symptoms of thyroid disease during pregnancy may be insufficient to detect women with thyroid dysfunction,who will become at high-risk pregnancy. © 2013 masanao ohashi et al.