Effect of latent toxoplasmosis on the thyroid function during pregnancy

While several past studies dealt with the effects of latent toxoplasmosis on the function of the thyroid gland and on the pregnancy separately, the former one with varied results, this work combines the two areas together with goals to determine whether the latent toxoplasmosis affects levels of antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, to analyze the effect of toxoplasmosis on the levels of the thyrotrophic hormone and to learn whether the interactions between latent toxoplasmosis and autoimmune thyropathies affect conception, foetal development, length of pregnancy and mode of delivery in childbirth. The work follows on the recent years' discoveries of our laboratory that showed the latent toxoplasmosis to affect both the course of pregnancy and the prenatal development of a child. It also takes up directly on a screening of autoimmune thyropathies in pregnant women conducted in years 2006 to 2009 in General University Hospital. The retrospective study comprised of 1434 pregnant women who underwent serological examination as a part of the 1st trimester screening and whose serum was subsequently examined for toxoplasmosis. The data set obtained from medical databases contained results of serological screening of the mothers, ultrasound examination of the..