Presence of thyroid antibodies in early reproductive failure: biochemical versus clinical pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of thyroid antibodies in determining early pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
University-based facility at the Center for Reproductive Health, University of California, Irvine.


METHODS
Four hundred eighty-seven infertile patients that successfully conceived with assisted reproductive techniques from January 1991 to December 1992.


METHODS
An enzyme immunoassay for semiquantification of thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies used to determine antibody status from stored serum of these patients.


METHODS
Thyroid antibody status in early pregnancy.


RESULTS
Of the 487 patients studied, there were 106 women who were antibody positive for anti-TG, antithyroid peroxidase, or both, and 381 who were negative. The overall incidence of positivity was 22%. In the antibody-positive group there was a 32% clinical miscarriage rate in comparison to 16% in the antibody-negative group. This did reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of biochemical or ectopic pregnancies. There also was no significant difference between the groups in age, gravidity, or number of prior pregnancy losses.


CONCLUSIONS
In our patient population, thyroid antibodies proved to be a useful marker for identifying women at risk for clinical miscarriage but they appear not to have an association with biochemical pregnancies.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, Orange.
A
A
Singh
Z N
ZN
Dantas
S C
SC
Stone
R H
RH
Asch
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase