CHANGES OF SERUM ANTI-THYROID ANTIBODIES DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY IN AUTO-IMMUNE THYROID DISEASES

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (1) , 30-37
Abstract
Changes of serum anti-thyroglobulin hemagglutination antibodies (TGHA) and anti-thyroid microsomal hemagglutination antibodies (MCHA) were observed during pregnancy and after delivery in Graves'' disease and autoimmune thyroiditis. TGHA and MCHA decreased as pregnancy progressed; sometimes they became negative in late pregnancy. Transient increases of TGHA and MCHA were observed after delivery and the antibody titers reached peaks about 3-4 mo. post-partum in more than half the patients. In some patients, antibodies developed after delivery. Similar transient increases of antibodies were observed after spontaneous and therapeutic abortion. These changes seem to be induced by physiological and immunological changes occurring during pregnancy and after delivery.