Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases in the Postpartum Period: Epidemiological progile and Diagnostic Approaches and Treatment

Abstract

Thyroid diseases are almost 10 times more common among women, often affecting young, reproductive-age individuals. Thyroid dysfunction, especially thyroid hormone deficiency during pregnancy, can be a risk factor for obstetric complications such as anemia, placental abruption, stillbirth, and can also have an adverse effect on the development of the fetal nervous system. The prevalence of thyroid antibodies, which are a risk factor for the development of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and hypothyroidism, reaches 10% or more among pregnant women. The prevalence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy is 2-2.4%. According to the data obtained at that time, the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (AT-TPO) with a level of more than 150 mU/L was 9.8%, and hypothyroidism (TSH> 4.0 mU/L) was 1.86%. The latest recommendations of the Endocrine Society (USA) on the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases during pregnancy have caused much discussion, according to which a TSH level exceeding 2.5 mU/L has been proposed as a criterion for diagnosing hypothyroidism in pregnant women. The question arises as to how such a significant narrowing of the reference range for TSH will affect the prevalence of thyroid diseases among pregnant women.