Thyroid Function Control among Pregnant Women Following a Therapeutic
Thyroidectomy
Abstract
Background: The total number of thyroidectomies performed worldwide both
for benign and malignant disease has increased dramatically during the
past few decades. Gestational hypothyroidism has deleterious effects on
the fetus. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of
thyroid function control among pregnant women who had previously
undergone a therapeutic thyroidectomy. Methods: This retrospective
cohort study included all female patients insured in the largest health
maintenance organization in Israel who were pregnant between May, 2001
and September, 2012 and had a medical history of thyroid surgery. The
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels throughout the pregnancy were
compared to recommended trimestral values. A multivariate analysis was
performed to determine risk factors for not attaining TSH recommended
range. Results: A total of 477 females with a history of thyroid surgery
had given 701 births during the study period. Forty-three percent (n=
203), had thyroidal malignancy. Nearly half of the women underwent total
thyroidectomy (43.4% n=207). The women’s TSH values were within the
recommended range in only 60% (n= 350) of the pregnancies during the
first trimester (0.1-2.5 mIU/L), in 61% (n=335) during the second
trimester (0.2–3 mIU/L), and in 70% (n=338) during the third trimester
(0.3–3 mIU/L). In multivariate analysis, women that underwent a total
thyroidectomy due to a benign thyroid disease, were at the highest risk
for not attaining target TSH levels. Conclusions: This very large cohort
of pregnant women with a past history of thyroid surgery demonstrated a
significant percentage of pregnancies with TSH values above the
recommended range. Women that underwent a total thyroidectomy due to
benign thyroid disease were at the highest risk for gestational
hypothyroidism.