title: Role of thyroid peroxidase antibodies in the outcome of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) auto antibodies among pregnant women and its relation with their pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out at Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore, in the department of Obs/Gynae and NHRC from July 2000 to July 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 1,500 Euthyroid pregnant women, ages 18 - 40, registered for antenatal care at Obs/Gynae department. Previous fertility history was recorded and thyroid peroxidase antibody level was assessed by ELISA method. A cut off value of TPO antibody of upto 100 U/ml was considered negative and more than 100 U/ml was considered positive.The cases were followed for the outcome of their pregnancy and compared with TPO antibody levels. A comprehensive proforma was used to collect the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of positive TPO autoantibodies was found to be 11.2%. The raised TPO autoantibodies were found to have higher risk of abortion (O.R 49.2) and prematurity (O.R.8.1). The complications were found to be significantly raised among positive TPO autoantibodies cases, when analysed by parity and age of mother at time of registration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid autoimmune diseases among euthyroid pregnant women may contribute to low-birth-weight of neonates and high abortion rate in all pregnancies. Raised levels of TPO autoantibody is a good marker to assess early hypothyroidism state and should form a screening modality in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: National Health Research Complex, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore.
authors.forename: Farkhanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghafoor
authors.forename: Mussarat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Muhammad Saleem
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Aman Ullah
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Waheed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase