Research Article, Androl Gynecol Curr Res Vol: 6 Issue: 1

Dysthyroidism in Diabetic Pregnant Women

Nadia Ben Amor^*, Chaïma Jemaï, Hajer Tertek, Aroua Temesk, Meriem Zarrouk and Faïka Ben Mami

Department C, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technologies, Tunis, Tunisia

*Corresponding Author : Nadia Ben Amor
Department C, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia
Tel: (+216) 98425170
E-mail: bestnadou@yahoo.fr

Received: January 04, 2018 Accepted: January 24, 2018 Published: January 30, 2018

Citation: Ben Amor N, Jemaï C, Tertek H, Temesk A, Zarrouk M, et al. (2018) Dysthyroidism in Diabetic Pregnant Women. Androl Gynecol: Curr Res 6:1. doi: 10.4172/2327-4360.1000160

Abstract

Keywords: Diabetic pregnancy; Dysthyroidism; Screening

Abbreviations

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone; FT4: Free Thyroid Hormone 4; Hcg: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone; ATPO: Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies

Introduction

Thyroid diseases are the most common endocrine pathologies in women of childbearing age. Their prevalence is significantly increased during pregnancy, especially in diabetic patients [1]. Indeed, pregnancy is characterized by different hormonal adaptations with particular elevation of different hormones. In addition, there is an increase in metabolic needs and changes in the immune system that may be a factor of deregulation or revelation of these thyroid diseases, the lack of correct management can lead to deleterious maternal-fetal consequences [2]. The purpose of our work is to systematically screen for dysthyroidism in diabetic patients followed in our department to assess the prevalence of thyroid diseases during diabetic pregnancy.

Patients and Methods

This is an observational descriptive study of 204 diabetic pregnant patients followed in the C department of the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technologies from January 2013 until October 2017.

Inclusion criteria

Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes.

Criteria for non-inclusion

Thyroid pathology known before pregnancy, taking medications that may interfere with the thyroid. All patients had systematically benefited from a thyroid test (FT4/TSH). The evaluation of thyroid status referred to the 2012 recommendations made by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in cooperation with the American Thyroid Association [3]. The statistical analysis of the results was carried out by the SPSS software version 20. The comparison of two qualitative variables was carried out by the Chi-square test with a significance threshold retained at 0.05.

Results

The mean age of our patients was 31.4 ± 4.6 years with extremes ranging from 20 to 41 years (Figure 1). Mean diabetes progression was 14.8 ± 3.5 years with extremes ranging from 2 to 17 years. Diabetic retinopathy was found in 7.84% (n = 16) of our patients; nephropathy in 5.39% (n = 11) and neuropathy in 0.98% (n = 2). No macroangiopathy was noted (Figure 2). Family history of thyroid pathologies was noted in 14.71% of our total population (n = 30 of 204) and in 17.24% of parturient with dysthyroidism (n = 10 of 58) with a statistically insignificant difference (p = 0.06) (Figure 3).

Discussion

The physiological changes in thyroid status observed during pregnancy are a transient and relative increase in FT4 in parallel with the increase in hCG in the first trimester and then an average decrease in FT4 levels. Approximately 15% which can be amplified in case of iodine deficiency [4]. The TSH assay is the first-line test considered to be the most effective for determining the thyroid status of a pregnant patient. The elevation of hCG in early pregnancy leads to a decrease in TSH or even its physiological suppression (around the tenth week of amenorrhea) in about 20% of pregnant women [5]. It is therefore necessary for the pregnant woman to have reference intervals adapted to the stage of pregnancy [6]. US recommendations suggest these normality values: 1^st quarter 0.1-2.5 mIU/L, 2^nd quarter 0.2-3.0 mIU/L and 3^rd quarter 0.3-3.0 mIU/L [3]. In our study, 28.43% was the total prevalence of thyroid diseases in 204 diabetic parturients (gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes). This high prevalence is consistent with many studies, such as Moreno-Reyes, which had detected all thyroid pathology in first trimester pregnant women in 55 obstetrical clinics and found 18.6% [7].

In order of decreasing frequency, the dysthyroidism found in our work was crude hyperthyroidism, then true hypothyroidism, then transient gestational thyrotoxicosis, and lastly, frank hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism was noted in our study in 16.67% and 5.88% respectively for the infra-clinical form and the frank form. In the literature, during diabetic pregnancy, the prevalence of hypothyroidism varies between 5 and 16%. In type 1 diabetics in the Netherlands, it is 4.9% and that of subclinical hypothyroidism is 18.3% [8]. Indeed, the recent modification of the higher standards of TSH during pregnancy, results in a significant increase in this prevalence. Similarly, iodine deficiency in the mother may explain hypothyroidism. As a result, the World Health Organization recommends 200 to 300 μg daily for iodine and 250 μg for the Endocrine Society [9,10]. Transient gestational thyrotoxicosis was found in 4.90% of our patients. This pathology is related to excessive stimulation of the hCG receptor by the TSH at concentrations at least greater than 200 000 IU/L [11]. In the literature, its prevalence is on average 3% [12]. As for free hyperthyroidism, 0.98% of our parturient had Graves’ disease, the main symptomatology of which was sweating, severe vomiting and weight loss or lack of weight gain. The diagnosis was confirmed by collapsed TSH, increased free thyroid hormones and the presence of anti-TSH receptor antibodies. This prevalence is consistent with many other studies that showed that hyperthyroidism was found in 1.7% of type 1 diabetics and 0.3% of type 2 diabetics (0.1% to 0.6% excluding diabetes) [13]. Following these percentages obtained on a series of 204 diabetic parturients, the dysthyroidies seem to be a pathology rather found during the pregnancy, in particular the subclinical forms. In addition, these thyroid diseases were more frequently present in type 1 diabetic parturients than type 2 or in gestational diabetes with a significant difference (p = 0.01). This is due, among other things, to the disruption of the immune system, particularly in women with autoimmune diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended to dose before and at the beginning of pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, TSH and ATPO antibodies [3]. For type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, the risk is lower and screening is not currently recommended.

Conclusions

Our results showed an increased prevalence of silent thyroid disorders during diabetic pregnancy, particularly hypothyroidism in type 1 diabetics. Systematic screening of these patients is well established by international recommendations. However, the question still arises in other diabetic and non-diabetic parturients. It would be necessary to carry out other studies of the prevalence of dysthyroidism in all pregnant women, diabetic or not, and whatever the type of diabetes, in order to lay down the screening procedures during pregnancy.

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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