Clinical characteristics of the study group.

<p> AITD: autoimmune thyroid disorders. TPOAb: antibodies against thyroperoxidase. The data were obtained from questionnaires filled by the participating women.</p

MBL levels in pregnant women with and without autoimmune thyroid disorders.

<p>Overall, 103 women tested positively in a screening for AITD performed between the 9^th and 12^th gestational weeks (grouped together in the left column). They were found to be positive for TPOAb in 86 cases (of these, 12 had TSH elevation, 6 had TSH suppression; the rest was euthyroid). Of the 17 TPOAb-negative ones, 10 had TSH elevation and 7 had TSH suppression. Eighty women were negative for both parameters (right column). Horizontal bars represent median values of serum MBL.</p

Prevalence of atopy, asthma and allergy with regard to MBL status.

<p>–1000 ng/ml; high: >1000 ng/ml. MBL2 genotypes represent the allelic variations associated with low, intermediate or high MBL levels. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Serum MBL levels are regarded as low if they are <100 ng/ml; intermediate: 100</p

Serum MBL levels in pregnant women screened for AITD.

<p>–1000 ng/ml and high: >1000 ng/ml. Low serum MBL levels: <100 ng/ml; intermediate: 100</p

Serum levels of MBL and thyroid parameters in pregnant women screened for autoimmune thyroid disorders in the 9-12^th gestational wks.

<p>^*(p<0.05), ^**(p<0.01), ^***(p<0.001) (Mann Whitney test). Positivity in screening: TSH<0.06 or >3.67 mIU/l and/or TPOAb>143 kU/l. TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone; FT4: free thyroxine; TPOAb: antibodies against thyroperoxidase. All 212 women included provided a blood sample for MBL analysis after delivery. In 103women, MBL could also be measured in a sample frozen at screening in pregnancy, which summed up to 96 pairs (pregnancy vs. follow-up). Statistical significances of comparison between values in positively vs. negatively screened women are marked by </p