Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of different doses of LT4 in pregnant women with high-normal TSH levels and TPOAb positivity in the first half of pregnancy

Abstract

Background The objective was to investigate the efficacy of different doses of levothyroxine therapy among pregnant women exhibiting high-normal thyroid stimulating hormone levels and positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies throughout the first half of pregnancy. Methods Pregnant women exhibiting high-normal thyroid stimulating hormone levels and thyroid peroxidase antibodies positivity throughout the initial half of pregnancy were selected from January 2021 to September 2023. Based on the different doses of levothyroxine, the pregnant women were categorized into the nonintervention group (G0, 122 women), 25 µg levothyroxine intervention group (G25, 69 women), and 50 µg levothyroxine intervention group (G50, 58 women). Serum parameters, gastrointestinal symptoms, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared after the intervention among the three groups. Results After the intervention, in the G25 and G50 groups, the thyroid stimulating hormone, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels were notably less in contrast to those in the G0 group (P < 0.05). The rates of abdominal distension and SIBO in the G25 and G50 groups were notably lower in contrast to the G0 group (P = 0.043 and 0.040, respectively). The G50 group had a lower rate of spontaneous abortion and premature membrane rupture than the G0 group (P = 0.01 and 0.015, respectively). Before 11+ 2 weeks of gestation and at thyroid peroxidase antibodies levels ≥ 117 IU/mL, in contrast to the G0 group, the G50 group experienced a decreased rate of spontaneous abortion (P = 0.008). The G50 group had significantly higher newborn weight than the G0 group (P = 0.014), as well as a notably longer newborn length than the G0 and G25 groups (P = 0.005). Conclusions For pregnant women with high-normal thyroid stimulating hormone levels and thyroid peroxidase antibodies positive during the first half of pregnancy, supplementation with 50 µg levothyroxine was more effective in improving their blood lipid status and gastrointestinal symptoms, reducing the incidence of SIBO and premature rupture of membranes, and before 11+2 weeks, TPOAb ≥ 117 IU/mL proved more beneficial in mitigating the risk of spontaneous abortion.