Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Thyroid disorders are among the common endocrine problems in pregnant women. Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism has been shown to be associated with an adverse outcome for both the mother and offspring.

Objective: Are to find out the prevalence and complications of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism among pregnant Saudi women living at ALMadinah region.

Materials and methods: A hospital-based prospective study performed at Madina Maternity and Children hospital and Ohud hospital, were Nine hundred and thirty six pregnant women between 12 and 30 weeks of gestation enrolled between July 2009 and June 2010. All women received the usual anti natal care. TSH level estimation was done and if TSH level was deranged then free T4, free T3 levels were added. Patients were managed accordingly.

Results: (9.3%) pregnant women were found to have overt hypothyroidism, and (14.9%) were diagnosed as subclinical hypothyroidism, reflecting high prevalence rate for both disorders. There was a high rate of caesarean section (35.6%)* for women with overt hypothyroidism and of (30.2%)* for women with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Gestational DM developed in (23%)* of women with overt hypothyroidism and (34.5%)* with subclinical hypothyroidism. Intrauterine foetal deaths complicated (3.4%)* of overt hypothyroid pregnant women, a low apgar score at delivery was encountered in (16.1%)* of neonates of overt hypothyroid mothers and (10.1%) of neonates of subclinical hypothyroid mothers.

Conclusion: Pregnancy was associated with a high prevalence rate of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism among pregnant Saudi women. Significant adverse foetal and maternal outcomes may be prevented by screening all Saudi pregnant women as early as first antenatal visit by simple TSH testing.