ANTITHYROID ANTIBODIES UNDERLYING THYROID ABNORMALITIES AND MISCARRIAGE OR PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION

Objective To assess whether asymptomatic abnormalities, including thyr oid auto-antibodies, were associated with an abnormal miscarriage rate or a poor obstetric outcome, Design Prospective study of thyroid auto -antibodies and thyroid function in an unselected obstetric population . Setting Saint-Pierrie Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Subjects Seven hu ndred and thirty consecutive pregnant women attending the antenatal cl inic. Main outcome measures Miscarriage and pregnancy induced hyperten sion. Results Elevated antithyroperoxidase (TPO-Ab) and antithyroglobu line (TG-Ab) antibody titres are associated with an increased miscarri age rate. Also, asymptomatic thyroid abnormalities, mainly abnormal ec hostructure but not antithyroid antibodies, are associated with pregna ncy induced hypertension. Conclusion The presence of thyroid auto-anti bodies during pregnancy constitutes a marker of increased risk of misc arriage and poor obstetric prognosis.