To evaluate the influence of ferritin on thyroid hormones in second trimester antenatal cases in Perambalur District

Background: Hypothyroidism is the most common pregnancy-related thyroid disorder, affecting 3–5% of all pregnant women. Pregnant women are often iron deficient, and iron deficiency has adverse effects on thyroid metabolism. Impaired maternal thyroid function during pregnancy may cause neurodevelopmental delays in the offspring. Iron deficiency is frequent during the first trimester of pregnancy and associated with a higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity, higher serum TSH and lower fT4 levels. Anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBC's) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. Anemia can have several reasons, such as abnormality of the formation and reduction on the half-life of the red cells. Aim of the study: To evaluate the thyroid status in second-trimester antenatal cases. Materials and methods: Totally 60 female patients were included in the study. Group-1(30) pregnant women with hypothyroidism. Group -2(30) pregnant women without hypothyroidism. The study was conducted from July – November 2018 over a period of 6 months at OG Department of DSMCH, perambalur. Ferritin levels were estimated in 60 female patients newly diagnosed patients of hypothyroidism using chemiluminescence technique (advia centaur cp). Total T3 and T4 levels were estimated using radioimmunoassay. Free T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were estimated using chemiluminescence. These were then compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results were correlated statistically. Results: Serum ferritin levels were found to be significantly reduced in pregnant women with hypothyroidism compared to normal pregnant women (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Complications that may occur during pregnancy and delivery could be due to low thyroid function, but was not able to be clearly proven in this study. Although prior or early-pregnancy testing for iodine level and thyroid function can help early identify iodine deficiency and thyroid disorder, justifying a general screening will require further studies with multicentre-recruitment and ante-natal clinics involvement.