Study Looks at Impact of Hypothyroidism, Hypothyroxinemia in Pregnancy
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21, 2024 -- For women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) or hypothyroxinemia (HT) diagnosed during the first half of pregnancy, SH is associated with higher rates of overt hypothyroidism or thyroid replacement therapy within five years of delivery, according to a study published online July 31 in Thyroid.
Michael W. Varner, M.D., from the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City, and colleagues conducted a secondary analysis of two multicenter treatment trials for SH or HT diagnosed between 8 and 20 weeks of gestation, focusing on individuals randomly assigned to the placebo groups.
The researchers found that one- and five-year follow-up data were available for 307 of 338 participants with SH and 229 of 261 with HT. Compared to those with HT, participants with SH more often had subsequent hypothyroidism at years 1 (13.4 versus 3.1 percent) and 5 (15.6 versus 2.6 percent). This progression was seen more often among those with thyrotropin values >10 mIU/mL. Among individuals with SH, a baseline thyroid peroxidase (TPO) level >50 IU/mL versus ≤ 50 IU/mL was associated with higher rates of hypothyroidism at years 1 and 5 (odds ratios, 5.3 and 5.4, respectively). Among individuals with HT, there were no differences seen in overt hypothyroidism at one year, while more participants with TPO levels >50 IU/mL developed hypothyroidism by year 5 (odds ratio, 13.4).
"Our data lend further evidence to the postpartum time period as a time when autoimmune diseases, in this case, hypothyroidism, are more likely to be present," Varner said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Consistent Physical Activity Linked to Reduced All-Cause, CVD Mortality
FRIDAY, July 11, 2025 -- Consistently and increasingly accumulated physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced risk for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)...
Increased Liver Enzyme Levels Seen With Use of Cannabidiol in Adults
THURSDAY, July 10, 2025 -- Use of cannabidiol (CBD) within the range consumers are taking with unregulated CBD products is associated with increased liver enzyme levels, according...
Majority of Patients With Lyme Disease Do Not Follow Up With Clinician
THURSDAY, July 10, 2025 -- Only 34 percent of patients with erythema migrans >5 cm are positive for Lyme disease by a standard two-tier testing (STTT) algorithm, and of...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.