title: Comparison of thyroid hormone levels between normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate thyroid function in preeclamptic patients in comparison with normal pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this analytical cross-sectional study free Thyroxine (T4), and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels were measured in 100 preeclamptic patients and were compared with Free T4 and TSH levels in 101 normal pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patients with thyroid or other systemic disorders were excluded from this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference in concentration of free T4 levels (0.729 ±0.324 ng/ dl versus 0.929± 0.314 ng/dl, p <0.001) was observed in the preeclamptic group compared with the normotensive group, but the mean TSH level was not significantly different (2.935±1.16 mIU/L versus 2.339±1/15 mIU/L, p = 0.170).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women who develop preeclampsia are more likely to have lower normal limits of thyroid function during their final weeks of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. drzraoofi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Raoofi
authors.affiliation: 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. dr_anahita547@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalilian
authors.affiliation: 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mansourahshabanizanjani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mansorah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shabani Zanjani
authors.affiliation: 4. Medical student, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. panizprvr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Paniz
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Parvar
authors.affiliation: 5. Medical student, Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. pegahprvr@rocketmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Pegah
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Parvar
keywords: Hypothyroidism; Preeclampsia; Thyroid stimulating hormone; Thyroxin