Small Gestational Age - Implications of Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Pregnancy

Objective: implication of thyroid autoimmune disease of pregnant women on some somatic parameters in newborns.

Material and Method: 1859 term newborns were evaluated. Mothers were investigated of thyroid hormonal function (TSH, FT4) and thyroid autoantibodies (ATPO, antithyroglobulin antibodies) were determined. The results divided the mothers with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis into two groups: group 1 - chronic autoimmune thyroiditis present with normal thyroid function; group 2- chronic autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism.

A questionnaire for iodine supplements taken during pregnancy was completed. For newborns were assessed: weight at birth, Apgar score, and gestational age. A control group of 784 newborns from mothers with no thyroid problems was studied comparatively.

Results: Newborns from mothers with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis had a lower birth weight compared to children of the same gestational age with mothers without thyroid pathology. The incidence of newborns with SGA was statistically significant in group 2 (3.5%) than group 1 (3.3%) compared to the control group (2.5%) (p <0.05). Consumption of iodinated supplements was -31.6% in group 1 and - 50% in group 2 respectively.

Conclusions: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis can be considered a risk factor for SGA. The impact of maternal hypothyroidism in pregnancy increases this risk. Supplementation with iodine in pregnant women with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis simultaneously requires a dynamic evaluation of thyroid hormonal profile.