Title
Effects of Levothyroxine Therapy on Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Date Issued
01 July 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Maraka S.
Singh Ospina N.M.
O'Keeffe D.T.
Rodriguez-Gutierrez R.
Espinosa De Ycaza A.E.
Wi C.I.
Juhn Y.J.
Coddington C.C.
Stan M.N.
Abstract
Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in some, but not all, studies. Uncertainty remains regarding the impact of levothyroxine (LT4) therapy on improving health outcomes in pregnant women with SCH. The objective of this study was to assess the potential benefits of LT4 therapy in pregnant women with SCH. Methods: The medical records were reviewed of pregnant women with SCH, defined as an elevated serum thyrotropin (TSH) of >2.5 mIU/L for the 1st trimester or >3 mIU/L for the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, but ≤10 mIU/L. Pregnant women were divided into two groups depending on whether they received LT4 (group A) or not (group B). Pregnancy loss and other pre-specified adverse outcomes were evaluated during follow-up. Results: There were 82 women in group A and 284 in group B. Group A had a higher body mass index (p = 0.04) and a higher serum TSH level (p < 0.0001) compared with group B. Group A had fewer pregnancies lost (n = 5 [6.1%] vs. n = 25 [8.8%]; p = 0.12), low birth weight (LBW) offspring (1.3% vs. 10%; p < 0.001), and no neonates with a five-minute Apgar score ≤7 (0% vs. 7%; p < 0.001) compared with group B. Other pregnancy-related adverse outcomes were similar between the two groups. Inferences remained unchanged after considering different models to adjust for potential predictors of outcome. Conclusions: LT4 therapy is associated with a decreased risk of LBW and a low Apgar score among women with SCH. This association awaits confirmation in randomized trials before the widespread use of LT4 therapy in pregnant women with SCH.
Start page
980
End page
986
Volume
26
Issue
7
OCDE Knowledge area
Endocrinología, Metabolismo (incluyendo diabetes, hormonas)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84978394445
PubMed ID
Source
Thyroid
ISSN of the container
10507256
Source funding
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus