Thyroid dysfunction after delivery: incidence and clinical course.
In a prospectively planned study of 591 Danish women thyroid dysfunction after delivery was found in 23 (3.9%). Seven women were hypothyroid and 16 were thyrotoxic. In seven of the thyrotoxic subjects a hypothyroid phase followed. Thyroid dysfunction was mostly transient with complete resolution within a year but persisted in three women (13%). Three months after delivery a positive titre of thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMAb) was found in 38 women (6.4%). Positive titres of TMAb were more often found in women with thyroid dysfunction than in those without (20/38 vs. 3/553). Maximal TMAb titres were seen 5-6 months after delivery and were associated with the occurrence of hypothyroidism. Postpartum thyroid dysfunction was found more often in women with a personal or family history of autoimmune thyroid disorder.
Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital of Slagelse, Denmark.
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Lervang
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Pryds
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Ostergaard Kristensen
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008861:Microsomes / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies