Does hyperglycemia in pregnancy change fetal kidney growth? A longitudinal prospective study.

PURPOSE: To measure fetal renal volume in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic pregnancies. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted and included 92 hyperglycemic and 339 normoglycemic pregnant women attended at the prenatal service of a hospital from Rio de Janeiro State. Ultrasound examinations were performed to estimate gestational age at baseline and the kidney volume was estimated using the prolate ellipsoid volume equation. RESULTS: Fetal kidney volume growth between normoglycemic and hyperglycemic pregnancies are significantly different. The fetal kidney volume growth in pregnancy is positively correlated with gestational age explained by these predictor equations, by group: normal renal volume = exp (6.186 + 0.09 × gestational week); hyperglycemic renal volume = exp (6.978 + 0.071 × gestational week) and an excessive growth pattern for hyperglycemic pregnancies may be established according to gestational age. CONCLUSION: This is important for early detection of abnormalities in pregnancy, particularly in diabetic mothers.

Does hyperglycemia in pregnancy change fetal kidney growth?: a longitudinal prospective study / A hiperglicemia na gravidez altera o crescimento renal fetal?: um estudo prospectivo longitudinal

PURPOSE: To measure fetal renal volume in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic pregnancies. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted and included 92 hyperglycemic and 339 normoglycemic pregnant women attended at the prenatal service of a hospital from Rio de Janeiro State. Ultrasound examinations were performed to estimate gestational age at baseline and the kidney volume was estimated using the prolate ellipsoid volume equation. RESULTS: Fetal kidney volume growth between normoglycemic and hyperglycemic pregnancies are significantly different. The fetal kidney volume growth in pregnancy is positively correlated with gestational age explained by these predictor equations, by group: normal renal volume = exp (6.186+0.09×gestational week); hyperglycemic renal volume = exp (6.978+0.071×gestational week) and an excessive growth pattern for hyperglycemic pregnancies may be established according to gestational age. CONCLUSION: This is important for early detection of abnormalities in pregnancy, particularly in diabetic mothers.

OBJETIVO: O estudo foi desenvolvido para medir o volume renal fetal em gestações normoglicêmicas e hiperglicêmicas. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal, incluindo 92 gestantes hiperglicêmicas e 339 normoglicêmicas que procuraram o serviço pré-natal de um hospital no estado do Rio de Janeiro. A ultrassonografia foi realizada para estimar idade gestacional e volume renal foi estimado utilizando a equação de volume elipsoide. RESULTADOS: O crescimento fetal e os volumes renais entre gestações normoglicêmicas e hiperglicêmicas são estatisticamente distintos. O aumento do volume renal fetal na gravidez é correlacionada com a idade gestacional, de acordo com as seguintes equações preditores, por grupo: volume renal normal = exp (6,186+0,09×semana de gestação); e volume renal hiperglicêmico = exp (6,978+0,071×semana de gestação). CONCLUSÃO: Estes dados são importantes para detecção precoce de anormalidades na gravidez, principalmente em mães diabéticas.

Is an upper limit of 2.5 mUI/l for TSH appropriate for the first trimester of pregnancy among young TPO - women?

OBJECTIVES: The general purpose of this study is to assess the distribution among the various hormonal indices in young pregnant women with negative thyroid peroxidase antibodies and iodine sufficiency and classify them accordingly while comparing them to literature proposed reference values for the first trimester. METHODS: A sectional study was carried out, including 127 pregnant women enrolled at the prenatal outpatient clinic at the Nova Iguaçu General Hospital, in the period comprised between 2000 and June 2007. They were submitted to TSH, free T(4), total T(4), TBG, and thyroid peroxidase antibody determinations. RESULTS: A median equal to 38.7 microg/ml was observed for TBG; TSH values varied between 0.02 and 5.84 mcUI/ml, with a median of 1.25 mcUI/ml. For total T(4) and free T(4), median values were, respectively 10.3 microg/dl and 1.20 ng/dl. Thirteen patients out of 115 displayed a TSH serum level above 2.5 mUI/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism classified by this new cutoff (serum TSH concentration between 2.5 mUI/l and the upper limit of the reference range), chiefly ATPO-negative young women display no need for treatment as there is no evidence that this condition is associated with maternal and fetal complications.

Value of combined clinical information and thyroid peroxidase antibodies in pregnancy for the prediction of postpartum thyroid dysfunction.

PROBLEM: To investigate the utility of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in early pregnancy combined with clinical information for prediction of postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) within 1 year postpartum. METHOD OF STUDY: We studied 98 pregnant women by determining their TPOAb levels in early pregnancy, as well as their serum thyrotropin and free thyroid (fT4) levels at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Furthermore, they answered a questionnaire and physical examination was performed by only one examiner. RESULTS: Of the 98 women, 10 were positive TPOAb in early pregnancy. The overall risk of PPTD within 1 year of follow-up was 10.2% (95% CI 4.1-16.3). Risk of PPTD was significantly higher among women with a family history of thyroid disease, TPOAb positive and presenting goiter in early pregnancy. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of TPOAb in PPTD prediction were 60.0%, 95.5% and 60%. Restricting screening to women with a family history of thyroid disease or presenting goiter increases the positive predictive value from 60% to 82.4%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TPOAb could be used as a screening test for PPTD prediction at least among women who present a high risk of developing PPTD.

Radioiodine therapy and subsequent pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate abortion and fetal congenital anomaly rates in women previously submitted to radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study of 108 pregnant women, 48 cases whose pregnancies were evaluated after they had undergone radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and the control group consisted of 60 healthy pregnant women. RESULTS: Of a total of 66 pregnancies, 14 conceived within the first year, 51 one or more years after the last administration of 131I, the medical record of one patient was not available. The interval between the last radioiodine therapy administration and conception ranged from 1 month to 10 years. There were a total of 4 miscarriages, 2 of them for unknown reasons. There was one case of congenital anomaly and two preterms birth. Nine women presented the following pregnancy events: placental insufficiency, hypertensive crisis, placental detachment, risk of miscarriage, preterm labour and four miscarriages. No statistical difference was observed between the studied and control groups. CONCLUSION: Radioiodine was followed by no significant increase in untoward effects in neither the pregnancy nor the offspring.

Radioiodine therapy and subsequent pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate abortion and fetal congenital anomaly rates in women previously submitted to radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study of 108 pregnant women, 48 cases whose pregnancies were evaluated after they had undergone radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and the control group consisted of 60 healthy pregnant women. RESULTS: Of a total of 66 pregnancies, 14 conceived within the first year, 51 one or more years after the last administration of 131I, the medical record of one patient was not available. The interval between the last radioiodine therapy administration and conception ranged from 1 month to 10 years. There were a total of 4 miscarriages, 2 of them for unknown reasons. There was one case of congenital anomaly and two preterms birth. Nine women presented the following pregnancy events: placental insufficiency, hypertensive crisis, placental detachment, risk of miscarriage, preterm labour and four miscarriages. No statistical difference was observed between the studied and control groups. CONCLUSION: Radioiodine was followed by no significant increase in untoward effects in neither the pregnancy nor the offspring.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a taxa de aborto e anomalia congênita em mulheres que engravidaram após radioiodoterapia para carcinoma diferenciado de tireóide. PACIENTES E MÉTODO: Estudo de caso controle com 108 mulheres, 48 submetidas à radioiodoterapia para carcinoma diferenciado de tireóide e 60 mulheres saudáveis (grupo controle). RESULTADOS: De 66 gestações (grupo de pacientes que receberam radioiodo), 14 ocorreram no primeiro ano e 51 mais de um ano após a administração do 131I. Não foi possível coletar dados de uma paciente. O intervalo entre a última dose de 131I e a concepção variou de 1 mês a 10 anos. Ocorreram 4 abortos, 2 de causas desconhecidas. Houve 1 caso de anomalia congênita e 2 pretermos. Nove pacientes que receberam 131I apresentaram intercorrências durante a gravidez: insuficiência placentária, crise hipertensiva, descolamento de placenta, ameaça de aborto, trabalho de parto prematuro e 4 abortos. Não houve diferença estatística entre o grupo estudado e o controle. CONCLUSÃO: O uso da radioiodoterapia para carcinoma diferenciado de tireóide em mulheres não foi relacionado com aumento de efeitos adversos nas mães e suas proles.

Influence of thyroid autoimmunity and maternal age on the risk of miscarriage.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, studies have shown an association between antiperoxidase for the detection of thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) and abortion. Another point to be considered is the association of high risk of abortion and maternal age. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the association between TAI and miscarriage could also be verified whether a population of unselected pregnant young women who normally present a low risk of miscarriage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 534 pregnant women, by determining their serum thyroid antiperoxidase antibodies (TPO-Abs), thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels. Our end point was the pregnancy loss or live birth. RESULTS: Age ranged from 12 to 49 years (mean +/- S.D.; 23.5 +/- 5.9). Of 534 women, 29 (5.4%) were TPO-Ab positive. TSH levels were significantly higher in TPO-Ab-positive women compared with TPO-Ab negative women (median; 1.9 versus 1.1; P = 0.001). Elevated TSH levels were found in 13.8% (4 of 29) of the TPO-Ab-positive women compared with only 2.4% (12 of 505) in the TPO-Ab-negative women. There were no significant differences in fT4 levels in relation with autoimmunity and risk of miscarriage. The overall risk of miscarriage was 2.4% (13 of 534). Risk of miscarriage was significantly higher among women older than 35 years (7.7%), TPO-Ab positive (10.3%) and presenting high levels of TSH (12.5%). These factors remained independently associated with the risk of miscarriage in full multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that TAI is independently associated with is a higher risk of miscarriage in a population of unselected pregnant presenting a low risk of miscarriage.

Síndrome poliglandular auto-imune tipo II / Type II autoimmune polyglandular syndrome

Os autores apresentam um caso de síndrome poliglandular auto-imune (SPA) tipo II, caracterizada pela associaçao de insuficiência adrenal, hipotireoidismo subclínico, hipofunçao gonadal e vitiligo. Discutem a prevalência das doenças auto-imunes associadas a esta síndrome e a conseqüente importância de classificar em tipo I e II as pacientes com SPA.