Investigation of thyroid dysfunction and autoantibody screening during early pregnancy

Totally 1 360 pregnant women during the first trimesters (4-12 weeks) who visited Ningbo University Affiliated Hospital and Ningbo Jiangbei Maternal Health Hospital from February 2010 to October 2011,and 216 non-pregnant healthy women,who contemporaneous by visited the hospital,were enrolled in this study.The thyroid screening was made by determining urinary iodine and serum free thyroxine,free triiodothyronine,total thyroxine,total triiodothyronine,thyrotropin,and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb).The median concentration of urinary iodine in the pregnant women was not different from that of non-pregnant women (P＞0.05) ; 1 360 pregnant women were screened,268 (19.71％) of them were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.29(13.43％) of non-pregnant women were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.There was significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =4.40,P＜0.05).Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction may increase during early pregnancy.The screening for thyroid function and autoantibody should be recommended in that period. Key words: Early pregnancy ;  Thyroid function screening ;  Thyroid disorders ;  Thyroid autoantibodies