Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The adverse impact of overt hypothyroidism that complicates pregnancy outcomes is well-established. In order to eliminate these complications has long been discussion about the need for early detection of the disease of the thyroid gland in the population of women planning pregnancy, respectively in early pregnancy. In Slovakia, this effort resulted in the approval of screening for thyroid diseases in pregnancy and has been enshrined in a legislative in 2009. Obligatory in screening is examination TSH, in case of pathological range, the patient is forwarded to endocrinologist.

Methods: we examined 60 pregnant patients in pilot study, with no history of thyroid disease, with a mean age of 32.7 years. They sent by gynecologists for pathological results of screening laboratory examinations (TSH, aTPO).

Results: We reported that patients were examined on average, in the 13th gestational week, 34 patients were diagnosed during the first trimester, 25 patients in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and one patient in the third trimester. A time from blood collection by gynecologist to the endocrinology examination ranged from 1–9 weeks. Thirty-five patients were first time pregnant. TSH was in normal range only in 18 patients, 8 patients had suppressed TSH physiologically (suppressed by effect of HCG), the remaining 34 patients had hypothyroidism. Antibody positivity had 31 patients. FT4 values ranged from 11 to 24 pmol/l (normal range) in 47 patients. Only 2 patients had fT4 below 11 pmol/l.

Conclusion: The results show that despite the implementation of screening for thyroid diseases in pregnant, these patients were sent to endocrinologist relatively late. That is a reason of late diagnosis of hypothyroidism, although it is well known that only early treatment can prevent symptoms and complications in pregnant women and ensure the healthy development of the child.