Thyroid screening in pregnancy

Background: Thyroid hormone is critical to normal development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. During the first trimester, the fetus depends on the mother’s supply of thyroid hormone, which comes through the placenta. At around 12 weeks, the baby’s thyroid begins to function on its own. In our study, complete thyroid profile of all antenatal patients was done at the first antenatal visit along with routine investigations. Aim of the study was to study the prevalence of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in low income, urban pregnant women.Methods: This is a retrospective study that includes 400 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Government medical college and hospital, Nagpur in the month of April 2017. These patient’s data was randomly selected in the biochemistry department where samples come. Thyroid profile is being done as a routine test along with other antenatal profile tests in our hospital. Thyroid profile test includes serum T3, serum T4 and serum TSH.Results: A total of 400 pregnant women were included in this study. Results showed 34% prevalence of hypothyroidism of which 30% being subclinical hypothyroidism and 4% overt hypothyroidism. There was 9.5% prevalence of hyperthyroidism of which 5.5% being subclinical hyperthyroidism and 4% overt hyperthyroidism.Conclusions: The study shows a very high prevalence rate of hypothyroidism in the patients attending the antenatal outpatient department at Government medical college and hospital, Nagpur. This justifies the inclusion of thyroid profile test as a routine test in the antenatal profile