Assessment of thyroid functions and thyroid volume in normal pregnant Egyptian females

Abstract

The normal range of thyroid functions during pregnancy differs between ethnic groups. This study assessed the thyroid functions in normal pregnant Egyptian females. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Abs) and thyroid volume were also assessed. The study included 150 normal pregnant Egyptian females, recruited from Cairo University Hospital Antenatal Care Clinic (50 in each trimester), with 40 age-matched non-pregnant females, as a control group. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and TPO Abs were measured. Thyroid volume was assessed by ultrasonography. TSH ranges were 0.21–1.7, 0.52–3.2 and 0.72–2.6 mIU/L during first, second and third trimesters, respectively. The mean TSH level in pregnant females was significantly lower than that of non-pregnant women (1.2 ± 0.7 vs 2.7 ± 0.9 mIU/L, p < .001). TPO Abs were significantly higher in the first trimester compared to both second and third trimesters (p < .001 for both). Thyroid volume of pregnant females was non-significantly higher than that of non-pregnant control subjects (p = .126). A significant positive correlation was found between thyroid volume and body mass index in pregnant females (p < 0.001). Our study established trimester-specific reference ranges for thyroid functions in normal pregnant Egyptian females. A larger population-based study would help to confirm those ranges. Thyroid volume was non-significantly higher than that of non-pregnant control subjects.

摘要

不同种族的甲状腺功能正常值范围有所不同。本研究评估了正常妊娠的埃及女性的甲状腺功能, 也对甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPO抗体）和甲状腺体积进行了评估。这项研究纳入了150名来自开罗大学医院产前保健的正常妊娠的埃及女性（每月50名）, 以及40名年龄匹配的未妊娠女性作为对照组。测定患者血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）和TPO抗体, 进行超声检查甲状腺体积。在妊娠第一、第二和第三期, TSH范围分别为0.21–1.7, 0.52–3.2和0.72–2.6 mIU/L。孕妇的TSH平均水平明显低于非妊娠妇女(1.2±0.7 vs 2.7±0.9 mIU/L, p<.001)。TPO抗体在妊娠早期明显高于妊娠中期和晚期（两组均P<.001）。妊娠女性的甲状腺体积不明显高于未妊娠对照组（P=0.126）。妊娠女性甲状腺体积与体重指数呈显著正相关（P<0.001)。我们的研究发现了正常妊娠埃及女性甲状腺功能的特异性参考范围, 更大规模人口的研究有助于进一步确定参考范围。甲状腺体积不明显高于未妊娠的对照组。

Keywords:

• Thyroid functions
• thyroid peroxidase antibodies
• thyroid volume
• pregnancy
• ultrasonography

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.