Thyroid dysfunction in the offspring of mothers with autoimmune thyroid diseases.
An integrated three-compartment thyroid model exists during gestation: pregnancy influences thyroid function in several ways, the placenta plays an active role in TRH-thyroid and iodide transport and metabolism, and the fetus develops its own hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. This commentary reviews some basic and new data, especially in the maternal-offspring relationship in the case of maternal autoimmune thyroid diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The careful control of maternal autoimmune thyroid disease is essential in order to avoid pathological changes in the offspring.
Péter
Ferenc
F
Buda Children's Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. peter_f@hu.inter.net
D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000151:congenital* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000151:congenital* / Q000517:prevention & control