Longitudinal study of serum thyroid hormone levels during normal pregnancy.
We undertook a prospective longitudinal study of thyroid function in 60 normal pregnant women and measured serum concentrations of T4, triiodothyronine (T3), T-uptake, thyroxine binding globulin (TBG), free thyroxine index (FTI), free T4, albumin and thyrotropin (TSH). From these data we established reference ranges for each of these analytes for each trimester and examined the inter-relationships between laboratory measurements of thyroid function tests. We observed significant increases in serum concentrations of thyrotropin and decreases in free T4, assays commonly used as first line investigations of thyroid activity during pregnancy. However, the 95th centile intervals for both analytes remained within the reference range for nonpregnant women.
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Subiaco, Australia.
P C
PC
O'Leary
P
P
Boyne
G
G
Atkinson
K J
KJ
Mileham
I
I
James
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones