title: Fetal thyroid function.
abstract: Cordocentesis has permitted the study of fetal thyroid function. In normal pregnancy, fetal blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones and thyroid-binding globulin increase with advancing gestation demonstrating functional maturation of the pituitary, thyroid and liver, respectively. The administration of thyroid-releasing hormone to the mother produces a rapid increase in fetal TSH from at least 25 weeks gestation. In hypoxemic growth-retarded fetuses, the concentrations of TSH are higher, and the concentrations of total and free thyroxine are lower than in appropriately grown fetuses. In anemic fetuses from red cell-isoimmunized pregnancies, serum TSH and thyroid hormone concentrations are increased. In some chromosomally abnormal fetuses, particularly those with trisomy 21, TSH is increased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thorpe-Beeston
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone