title: Effects of maternal subclinical hypothyroidism on obstetrical outcomes during early pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal hypothyroidism [overt hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH)] during early pregnancy is suspected to associate with adverse obstetrical outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal SCH during the early stage of pregnancy increase obstetrical complications and whether treatment results in an improvement in these outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 756 women in the 1st trimester (≤12 weeks) of pregnancy were enrolled through 10 hospitals in Shenyang from 2007 to 2009. All participants underwent thyroid function testing in early pregnancy and their obstetrical outcomes were studied following delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of spontaneous abortions in the SCH group was higher than the normal TSH group (15.48% vs 8.86%, p=0.03). No significant association was observed between SCH and other obstetrical complications including gestational hypertension, premature delivery, anemia, post-partum hemorrhage, low neonatal Apgar scores and low birth weight. Although levo-T4 (L-T4) treatment decreased the incidence of spontaneous abortions in women with SCH, it was not statistically significant when compared to women who did not receive treatment in the SCH group. None of the 28 women who received L-T4 treatment had premature delivery, low birth weight, hemorrhage, and low Apgar score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of spontaneous abortion in pregnant women with SCH increases in early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Shan
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000378:metabolism*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult