We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from Section 4 - Antepartum (Medical Complications)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 April 2025
Hyperthyroidism occurs in 0.2–0.7% of pregnancies with the large majority due to Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition where TSH-receptor antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, leading to increased thyroid hormone and decreased TSH via negative feedback loop. Screening for thyroid disease is indicated in pregnant persons with personal or family history of thyroid disease, history of type 1 diabetes, or clinical features suspicious for thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy is diagnosed by a low TSH and a high T4 or T3, based on trimester-specific and population-based reference ranges. Treatment is traditionally with PTU given in the first trimester to reduce risk of embryopathy and methimazole in the second and third trimester to reduce the risk of hepatotoxicity, but variation in practice exists. Thyroid hormone, not TSH, should be monitored every 2 to 4 weeks with the goal to keep T4 or T3 slightly above or within the high-normal reference range. While rare, thyroid storm is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate recognition and management in a tertiary care setting.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
