Thyroid hormone alteration in pre-eclamptic women

Abstract

This study sought a possible relationship between pre-eclampsia and thyroid profile. In a case-control setting, total thyroxine (T4), total tri-iodothyronine (T3), free T4, free T3, thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in 39 pre-eclamptic patients were measured and compared with the levels in 42 healthy controls. We examined possible variations with regard to the severity of pre-eclampsia by dividing cases into mild (n = 17) and severe (n = 22) subgroups. Patients with mild pre-eclampsia showed significantly increased free T4 and TSH levels compared to healthy controls. In severe cases, TSH level was higher, but free T3 and free T4 levels were significantly lower than in controls. Other tests returned non-significant differences between the groups. Our findings suggest that primary hypofunctioning of the thyroid can accompany mild pre-eclampsia and possibly contribute to the pathogenesis. Elevated levels of free thyroid hormones in severe cases, however, may have reflected a preceding thyroid disorder.

The effect of the D1-C785T polymorphism in the type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase gene on the circulating thyroid hormone levels in Romanian women with preeclampsia. Association with the degree of severity and pregnancy outcome of preeclampsia

“…This observation suggests that thyroid hormones might indicate the severity of preeclampsia. Our results regarding the lower levels of FT3 in preeclampsia are in agreement with those reported by other researches [21][22][23][24]. The decrease in FT3 levels probably appears because of the loss of proteins and protein-bound hormones in the urine.…”

The gonadotropins: Tissue-specific angiogenic factors?

“…However, an impact of TSH on preeclampsia was demonstrated. Several A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 27 studies revealed a correlation between preeclampsia, elevated TSH concentration in maternal serum and reduced birth weight (Basbug et al, 1999;Qublan et al, 2003;Larijani et al, 2004). Other thyroid hormones, namely triidithyronine (free T3) and thyroxine (free T4) remained unchanged or showed reduced levels in the same studies.…”

Thyroid disorders in pregnancy

“…In pre-eclampsia, decreased concentration of thyroid hormones and elevated concentration of TSH can be found in 30% of patients, the changes being correlated with severity of the condition and recovering spontaneously after delivery [7,8 ]. The importance of screening for thyroid function in pre-eclampsia is to exclude undiagnosed hypothyroidism, and persistently abnormal TSH concentration merits further monitoring and investigations to exclude hypothyroidism.…”