Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Early Gestation: Pregnancy Outcome in Treated and Untreated Women

Abstract

Background: Thyroid disorders are among the most common endocrine disorders in pregnancy.signs and symptoms of SCH are variable, often asymptomatic. Mostly SCH is a laboratory diagnosis; Risk factors include personal or family history of thyroid dysfunction, advanced maternal age, diabetes, other autoimmune disorders and morbid obesity. Objective: To investigate the outcome of pregnancy in women detected to have subclinical hypothyroidism in early gestation and to evaluate whether treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism reduces the adverse pregnancy outcome. Methods: A total of 200 subclinical hypothyroid pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy (TSH> 2.5-6mU/L) were included in the study.Out of these 100 women received treatment with thyroxine (group A) and 100 were left untreated and acted as controls (groupB). Results: The mean age of both the groups was 25 years.In obstetric score; most of the women were primigravida. Antenatal complications like GDM, PIH ,small for gestational age and preterm delivery were observed almost equally.In the mode of delivery,67 women in the treated group and 78 women in the control group delivered vaginally at term.Majority of newborns in both the groups had birth weight in the range of >2.5to<3.5 kg. Conclusion: In pregnant women with SCH (TSH >2.5-6mU/L and normal T4 level) , treatment with thyroxine does not have any association in reducing the incidence of preterm labour, gestational diabetes or hypertension.Neonatal outcome was normal in both the groups.