title: Point prevalence of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone during the first trimester of pregnancy in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in early pregnancy in Israel is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the rate of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) tests in low risk pregnant women attending a community clinic in Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of the charts of low risk pregnant women (n = 303) who had undergone a TSH screening during the first trimester of pregnancy at Clalit Health Services Women's Health Centers in Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. TSH of 0.1-2.5 mIU/L during the first trimester was considered to be normal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TSH levels ranged from 0.04 to 13.3 mIU/L (median 1.73 mIU/L, mean 1.88 mIU/L).The rate of abnormal TSH was 25.6%, with low TSH 2.3% and high TSH 23.4%. The prevalence of abnormal TSH was not influenced by gravidity (primigravidas versus multigravidas) or place of residence (Ashkelon or Tel Aviv).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the high prevalence of abnormal TSH (25.6%) in pregnant women in Israel during the first trimester, a universal country-wide screening should be considered.
authors.forename: Taiba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zornitzki
authors.forename: Miron
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Froimovici
authors.forename: Rubi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amster
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lurie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin