title: Impact of maternal thyroperoxidase status on fetal body and brain size.
abstract: The obstetric consequences of abnormal thyroid function during pregnancy have been established. Less understood is the influence of maternal thyroid autoantibodies on infant outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of maternal thyroperoxidase (TPO) status on fetal/infant brain and body growth. Six-hundred thirty-one (631) euthyroid pregnant women were recruited from prenatal clinics in Tampa Bay, Florida, and the surrounding area between November 2007 and December 2010. TPO status was determined during pregnancy and fetal/infant brain and body growth variables were assessed at delivery. Regression analysis revealed maternal that TPO positivity was significantly associated with smaller head circumference, reduced brain weight, and lower brain-to-body ratio among infants born to TPO+ white, non-Hispanic mothers only, distinguishing race/ethnicity as an effect modifier in the relationship. No significant differences were noted in body growth measurements among infants born to TPO positive mothers of any racial/ethnic group. Currently, TPO antibody status is not assessed as part of the standard prenatal care laboratory work-up, but findings from this study suggest that fetal brain growth may be impaired by TPO positivity among certain populations; therefore autoantibody screening among high-risk subgroups may be useful for clinicians to determine whether prenatal thyroid treatment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Roneé E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA ; Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 2 Tampa General Circle, STC, 6th Floor Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
authors.forename: Hamisu M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salihu
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs, MDC22, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Groer
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Getachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dagne
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs, MDC56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Alfred K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mbah