Thyroid autoimmunity and its association with non-organ-specific antibodies and subclinical alterations of thyroid function in women with a history of pregnancy loss or preeclampsia

Following the observation that non-organ-specific antibodies are related wi th pregnancy loss and preeclampsia, the role of organ-specific antibodies i s currently being extensively investigated. The aim of this study was on th e one hand to evaluate the incidence of antithyroid antibodies in a study g roup of 69 women with a history of early pregnancy loss (subgroup 1), foeta l death (subgroup 2) or preeclampsia (subgroup 3) and in a control group, o n the other hand to assess the possible association of these autoantibodies with non-organ-specific antibodies and subclinical alterations of thyroid function in the study group. Antithyroid antibodies were present in 26/69 ( 37.7%) women of the study group (37.9% in subgroup 1; 40.9% in subgroup 2; 33.3% in subgroup 3) and in 10/69 (14.5%) of controls, the difference being statistically significant. A significant difference in the distribution of antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase was found in subgroup 2 . In the study group, the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies was not significantly different in women positive (26.9%) and negative (34.9%) for antithyroid antibodies. Also, the overall incidence of subclinical alterati ons of thyroid function in the study group was significantly different in w omen positive (53.8%) and negative (16.2%) for thyroid autoimmunity (P < 0. 02). The results of this study seem to confirm the association between thyr oid autoimmunity and obstetric complications and suggest the usefulness of undertaking prospective studies in order to evaluate the reproductive outco me of women with a history of recurrent abortion, foetal death or preeclamp sia and positivity for antithyroid antibodies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd. All rights reserved.