Relation between Birth Weight and Thyroid Function in Preeclampsia-Eclampsia

Abstract

Maternal thyroid function was investigated in 37 preeclamptic and 8 eclamptic patients and 45 normal pregnant women in the third trimester as controls. There were significant correlations between maternal values of total thyroxine (TT₄), total triiodothyronine (TT₃), thyroxine-binding globulin, free thyroxine index and birth weight of newborns in the patients with preeclampsia-eclampsia, but there was no correlation in the controls. Also, the maternal free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, triiodothyronine uptake and thyroid stimulating hormone values showed no correlation with the birth weights of babies in both groups. The reduced serum concentrations of TT₄ and TT₃ may reflect the severity of preeclampsia.

Thyroid hormone alteration in women with pre-eclampsia

“…Similar findings were reported by Kaya E et al that serum T 3 , T 4 and TBG values significantly lower and TSH was significantly higher in pregnancy and eclamptic women compared to value of control group. 6 Other studies are also in agreement with our observation showing lower total T 3 and T 4 values and higher TSH value in pre-eclamtic women in third trimester. 2,3,6,7 Modest decrease in thyroid hormones with concomitant increase in TSH level in maternal serum correlated with severity of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and high levels of endothelin.…”

“…6 Other studies are also in agreement with our observation showing lower total T 3 and T 4 values and higher TSH value in pre-eclamtic women in third trimester. 2,3,6,7 Modest decrease in thyroid hormones with concomitant increase in TSH level in maternal serum correlated with severity of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and high levels of endothelin. 3 Kumar Ashok et al, observed that more member of preeclamptic women had abnormally high TSH levels at the time of diagnosis when compared to mornotensive women.…”

“…8 It was suggested that, for reduced serum concentration of thyroid hormone in toxemia may in part be explained by the loss of Protein and hence protein bound hormone. 6 Since T 3 is mostly peripheral conversion of T 4 , decease in T 3 associated T 4 is a normal consequence besides involvement of liver and kidney in toxemia of pregnancy. 4 Reduced serum concentration of TBG, T 3 and T 4 may also be explained by the faulty estrogen production due to placental dysfunction in pre-eclamptic women.…”

Thyroid Dysfunction And Pregnancy Outcome

“…Hypothyroidism has been listed as one of the causes of high blood pressure , which is one of the factors of preeclampsia [19]. In preeclampsia there is decrease production of estrogen resulting in decrease levels of thyroxine binding globulin and in turn low levels of thyroid hormones [20]. Pre-eclampsia was observed in 20.83% of hypothyroid ladies as compared to 9.1% in ladies with normal TSH levels.This is a significant observation with p-value <.001.…”

Correlation Between Maternal Serum Thyroid Profile And Preeclampsia At or Above 36 wks Gestation A Prospective Comparative Observational Study

“…Studies on preeclamptic patients have revealed that 16.7% and 43.7% of subjects were sub-clinical and overt cases of hypothyroidism respectively during pregnancy [6]. Preeclamptic women show high incidence of hypothyroidism that might correlate with the severity of preeclampsia [7,8,9].…”