Abstract
Postpartum thyroiditis is the most common manifestation of postpartum thyroid dysfunction and is often undiagnosed if the symptoms are mild. However, there is an increased risk for permanent thyroid disease in those affected and quality of life can be significantly impaired by hypothyroid symptoms. While the primary cause is unknown, women who have circulating autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase in pregnancy have a markedly increased risk for postpartum thyroiditis compared with antibody-negative pregnant women. An autoimmune pathophysiology, similar in many ways to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, has been demonstrated. Important signals for the disease in the postpartum are the return of cellular (Th1) immunity, an upregulated innate immune system of the postpartum and, possibly, postpartum hormones and stress. The disease is unique in that affected women typically return to an euthyroid state by 12-months postpartum.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.