THYROTOXICOSIS AND PREGNANCY - ANALYSIS OF 43 PREGNANCIES IN 42 THYROTOXIC MOTHERS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 67  (1) , 1-7
Abstract
During 1965-76, 43 pregnancies in 42 thyrotoxic mothers were seen. Pregnancies (39) in 38 patients were analyzed further. Pregnancies (27) in 26 patients were treated with antithyroid agents with (9) or without (17) supplemental thyroid hormone therapy and 5 were subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy. Spontaneous abortion occurred in 4 patients (12.5%), prematurity in 3 (9.4%) and perinatal death in 1 whereas 25 pregnancies ended at term (78%). Two pairs of twins were born and the number of live children in these 32 pregnancies was 29. Hypothyroidism developed in 1 patient after operation. Thyroid crisis occurred at delivery in 1 patient in whom the antithyroid therapy was interrupted before labor. Patients (7) were not reated with specific antithyroid therapy. In this group there was 1 twinbirth, 1 premature birth, 1 stillbirth and 1 child died shortly after birth. Thyroid crises developed at delivery in 2 mothers. Subtotal thyroidectomy is used if usual indications for operation are present and antithyroid therapy when the thyroid gland is small and diffuse. .beta.-receptor blocking agents are recommended only as adjuncts to the antithyroid therapy. A close surveillance of the patients and the free thryoid hormone level during therapy is important and after thryoidectomy treatment with thryroid hormone is recommended until after delivery.

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