| Subclinical Hypothyroidism | | | | the pregnancy played a significant role in the |
| Subclinical hypothyroidism, also known as mild | | | | increased rate of spontaneous abortion. |
| hypothyroidism, is usually asymptomatic or if it does | | | | Women with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism |
| manifest itself, it may present with vague symptoms | | | | were also found to have a significantly higher risk of |
| that could be attributed to other causes. Patients | | | | developing pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and |
| with subclinical hypothyroidism have elevated serum | | | | pregnancy-induced hypertension. There was also a |
| levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone while | | | | prevalence of gestational hypertension in mothers |
| maintaining normal levels of thyroxine and | | | | who were hypothyroid at delivery. Thyroid |
| triiodothyronine and may occur in the presence or | | | | replacement therapy may help prevent gestational |
| absence of thyroid antibodies. | | | | hypertension and its sequelae. |
| | | | Women with overt hypothyroidism were also most |
| Several signs of subclinical hypothyroidism include | | | | likely to deliver babies with low birth weight in |
| fatigue, constipation, weight gain, intolerance to cold, | | | | comparison to the general population. Women with |
| dry skin, menometorrhagia and infertility, decreased | | | | subclinical hypothyroidism were less likely than those |
| concentration and memory, and coarseness or loss | | | | with overt hypothyroidism to give birth to low birth |
| of hair. Unfortunately, these symptoms may be | | | | weight babies but still more likely to do so than the |
| overlooked by the patient himself and the hormone | | | | general population. |
| deficiency remains uncorrected until its more overt | | | | Placental abruption and preterm birth was also found |
| characteristics are manifested. | | | | to be of higher prevalence in women with subclinical |
| Adverse Outcomes of Subclinical Hypothyroidism on | | | | hypothyroidism than in those with normal thyroid |
| Pregnancy | | | | function. In comparison to euthyroid mothers, there |
| A study was conducted to determine the presence | | | | was a three-fold increase in the incidence of placental |
| of antithyroid antibodies in women enrolled in an in | | | | abruption, almost two-fold increase in preterm |
| vitro fertilization program in comparison to a control | | | | delivery, two-fold increase in neonate intensive care |
| group of women who have never been pregnant. All | | | | admission, and incidence of respiratory distress |
| women in the control group with normal thyroid | | | | syndrome in the neonates birthed by subclinically |
| function and have no history of autoimmune disease | | | | hypothyroid mothers. |
| or miscarriage. The findings suggested that the | | | | Screening and Treatment |
| presence of antithyroid antibodies may have a hand | | | | It is of utmost important for expecting mothers to |
| in unexplained and mechanical infertility. | | | | be screened for subclinical hypothyroidism in order for |
| In another study, it was observed that the | | | | them to enjoy a safe and normal pregnancy. The dire |
| prevalence of spontaneous miscarriages is higher in | | | | consequences discussed above are not only physically |
| women found to have antithyroid antibodies in | | | | traumatic for both the mother and the child but may |
| comparison to women who tested negative for | | | | be emotionally tragic for the whole family. Prompt |
| antithyroid antibodies. This study suggested that the | | | | detection of subclinical hypothyroidism could |
| presence of said antibodies in the first trimester of | | | | determine the difference between a life and a loss. |