RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Adequate adjustments by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis during pregnancy allow women to remain euthyroid with only slight changes in thyroid volume and other thyroid functions. In approximately 10 percent of women, the challenge of thyroid economy results in sub-clinical hypothyroidism. This study is to elucidate the association between such hypothyroidism and postpartum depression, if any. METHOD: Blood samples were collected from 73 healthy subjects attending the antenatal clinc of the University Hospital of the West Indies, at booking, 28 weeks, 36 weeks of gestation, and 1 day and 6 weeks postpartum. Serum level of total thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined by radioimmunoassays. The thyroid volume was estimated by ultrasonography in some subjects. A self-rating depression scale was administered at 28 weeks of gestation and at 6 weeks postpartum for quantitative measurement of depression. The preliminary results revealed that 22 subjects (30 percent) had postpartum depression, 12 (16 percent) had mild depressin and 10 (14 percent) had moderated to marked depression. Of these, only 2 subjects had total thyroxine values less than 5.5g/100 ml and TSH values greater than 2.5 IU/ml. There were no significant changes between postpartum and antepartum thyroid volumes. CONCLUSION: Although a significant number of women in this study had postpartum depression, no significant relationship between depression and the serum levels of thyroid hormones was established.(Au)
