Thyroid Disorders in Pregnancy- Experience from North East India

Abstract

Aims: Thyroid dysfunction is commonly encountered in pregnancy and can affect maternal and Fetal outcomes. Limited data are available from north east India on the prevalence of various thyroid disorders in pregnancy. The present study was hence conducted to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid disorders in a large government hospital in Assam. Study Design:  Prospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Department of endocrinology and department of obstetrics, Gauhati medical college, Guwahati between may 2011 to April 2013. Methodology: Pregnant women irrespective of gestational age attending the antenatal clinic of Gauhati medical college were screened for thyroid dysfunction by estimation of serum free t34 (FT4), TSH and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAB). Subjects with known thyroid disorders, chronic illness or on medications known to affect thyroid status were excluded from the study. Results were interpreted as per the American thyroid association (ATA) 2011 guidelines. Results: A total of 542 pregnant women were enrolled for this prospective cohort study. The mean age was 23.85±4.04 yrs. Of the 542 women screened, 69.18% were Euthyroid, 21.58% had subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), 5.35% had overt hypothyroidism (OH), hyperthyroidism was observed in 2.39% and 1.47% had gestational Thyrotoxicosis. TPOAB were positive in 18.08% of women. Conclusion: A high prevalence of thyroid disorders specially hypothyroidism were seen in this study using the newer ATA diagnostic criteria emphasizing the need for screening of all women during pregnancy.