Clinical and immunological follow-up of pregnant women with Graves disease.
The clinical and immune status of 11 pregnant women with Graves disease was followed up. Compared with the status before pregnancy, a deterioration of thyrotoxicosis characterized by an increased Crooks index and an increase in the total T4 and TBG levels was found. Measurements of the TSAb-titre by two parallel methods also gave distinctly altered values. Fetal or maternal complications were noted in 5 of the 11 cases. One of the women gave birth to a thyrotoxic fetus. It is suggested that in thyrotoxicosis of medium or major severity associated with a persistent TSAb positivity the possibility of subtotal thyroidectomy should be considered.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins; D013974:Thyroxine