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PURPOSE: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis addressing the efficacy of levothyroxine therapy in pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism considering most recent evidence and subgroups of interest for clinical practice. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched from inception for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing levothyroxine with placebo or no intervention in pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism. We used a random-effects model and conducted subgroup analyses based on thyroid peroxidase antibody status, thyroid stimulating hormone levels, fertility treatment, and recurrent miscarriage. RESULTS: We included 11 RCTs comprising 2,749 pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Patients treated with levothyroxine (1,439; 52.3%) had significantly lower risk of pregnancy loss (risk ratio 0.69; 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.91; p < 0.01; 6 studies). However, there was no significant association between levothyroxine and live birth (risk ratio 1.01; 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.03; p = 0.29; 8 studies). No statistically significant interaction was observed across subgroups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Levothyroxine replacement therapy for subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy may decrease pregnancy loss when early prescribed. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed in patients with thyroid stimulating hormone above four milliunits per liter, especially when associated with recurrent miscarriage or infertility.
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INTRODUCTION: The optimal management of a patent ductus arteriosus in a population of preterm infants is controversial. Traditionally, when the patent ductus arteriosus does not close either with conservative treatment or in response to pharmacological therapy, the only option is surgical closure. However, transcatheter occlusion might provide a therapeutic alternative. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for non-randomised and randomised controlled trials that compared transcatheter percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus with surgical ligation in low-birth-weight preterm infants (<2,500 g). A random-effects model was used for outcomes with high heterogeneity. RESULTS: We included twelve studies comprising 4,668 low-birth-weight preterm infants, of whom 966 (20.7%) were in the transcatheter percutaneous closure group, and 3,702 (79.3%) patients were included in the surgical group. All-cause mortality (OR 0.28; 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.423; p < 0.00001; I2 = 0%) and haemodynamic instability (OR 0.10; 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.21; p < 0.001; I2 = 14%) were significantly lower in the transcatheter percutaneous closure group. There was no significant difference between transcatheter and surgical patent ductus arteriosus closure for the outcomes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.46-1.87; p = 0.83; I2 = 0%) and major complications (OR 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.34-1.69; p = 0.51; I2 = 43%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in preterm infants under 2,500 g is a safe and effective alternative to surgical treatment. There was a substantial reduction in all-cause mortality and haemodynamic instability with transcatheter intervention compared to surgical closure.