Transient Postpartum Hypothyroidism: Fourteen Cases with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

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Abstract
Episodes (25) of postpartum primary hypothyroidism were observed in 23 patients without thyroid hormone treatment: 3 were cases of irreversible hypothyroidism and the others were of transient hypothyroidism. The characteristics of transient postpartum hypothyroidism deduced by serial observations on 14 patients were as follows: a high incidence of previous goiter; thyroid enlargement at 1/2-4 mo. postpartum; hypothyroidism at 3-5 mo. postpartum; spontaneous recovery at 5-10 months postpartum; high titers of antithyroid microsomal antibodies; and persistence of small goiter. Transient postpartum hyperthyroidism before the occurrence of hypothyroidism and the recurrence of transient postpartum hypothyroidism were observed during 2 consecutive postpartum periods in 2 patients. Transient hypothyroidism was also observed in 2 patients after abortion. Of the 23 patients, 14 first noticed thyroid abnormality after delivery. These changes seem to be induced during the course of autoimmune thyroiditis by the immunologic changes occurring after delivery.