Study of thyroid profile during pregnancy

Background: Thyroid disease is a disorder that affects the thyroid gland. Sometimes the body produces too much or too little thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism - the way the body uses energy and affect nearly every organ in the body. Thyroid hormone plays a critical role during pregnancy both in the development of a baby and in maintaining the health of the mother. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the thyroid status in pregnancy in light of controversial data and to project our values and ideas. Materials and methods: The present case control study was conducted on 100 patients (obstetric cases) attended and managed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology attached to Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur. The results of the patients were compared with 100 age matched control females having gynecological problems (with normal thyroid values). Fasting blood sample was investigated for the following parameters: T3 (Triiodothyronine), T4 (Thyroxine), TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). p-value was calculated by using online student t-test calculator. Result: All the cases of the control group had normal T3 values. Values below normal were noted in one case each of I and III trimester and normal values were noted in 80.27 per cent in I trimester, 54.75 per cent in II and 55.28 per cent in the III trimester. Only 18.30 per cent cases of I trimester had raised values of T3 while same was observed in 44.03 per cent in II and 43.51 per cent in III trimester. Variable values of T4 were observed in various trimesters of pregnancy. Values of T4 were below normal in 2.81 per cent in I, 1.20 per cent in II and 1.14 per cent in the III trimester. On the other hand in II and III trimester T4 values were higher than normal in 6.02 per cent and 40.22 per cent respectively. TSH value below normal (0.27μIU/dl) were observed in 2 cases in I and II trimester each while normal values were noted in most of the cases i.e. 77.45 per cent in I, 71.41 per cent in II and 83.31per cent in III trimester. Fluctuating values of TSH above 4.2 μIU/dl were observed in 19.71per cent in I, 26.18per cent in II and 16.66 per cent in the III trimester. Conclusion: T3 values increased during pregnancy significantly more so in II trimester. T4 values were less during I trimester particularly at par during II trimester and increased during III trimester. Raised TSH values were observed during pregnancy as compared to non-pregnant women. Significant increase was observed during II trimester.