Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in Patients With Normal TSH Levels
HT should be an important issue in female health, since it is a gender-specific disease, with a current female-to-male ratio of approximately 8:1. Furthermore, recent trials demonstrated that it was associated with dysregulations of the female reproductive system, even in cases of normal thyroid gland function. First and foremost, there seems to be a link to the characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome. A possible autoimmune etiology of at least some cases of polycystic ovary syndrome has been suggested for approximately two decades. As recently hypothesized by Gleicher et al., functional autoantibodies could contribute to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome, which represents a hyperfunction of follicular recruitment in the ovaries. Moreover, elevated anti-TPO levels have been associated with poor treatment response in euthyroid infertile women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome. Whether premature ovarian failure could be linked to thyroid autoimmunity is still a matter of debate.
Data suggest that HT might increase the risk for early pregnancy loss, regardless of thyroid function. The mechanism by which antibodies might be responsible for pregnancy loss is still not clear.
HT is also of special importance to a woman's health in the event of a pregnancy. Euthyroid pregnant women with known HT run the risk of developing an acute worsening of thyroid function postpartum, leading to severe hypothyroidism ('postpartum thyroiditis'). Moreover, transient mild elevation of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has frequently been observed in the first month of life in infants born of euthyroid mothers who had autoimmune thyroiditis. Accordingly, follow-up has been recommended in these newborns.
Female & Reproductive Health Issues
HT should be an important issue in female health, since it is a gender-specific disease, with a current female-to-male ratio of approximately 8:1. Furthermore, recent trials demonstrated that it was associated with dysregulations of the female reproductive system, even in cases of normal thyroid gland function. First and foremost, there seems to be a link to the characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome. A possible autoimmune etiology of at least some cases of polycystic ovary syndrome has been suggested for approximately two decades. As recently hypothesized by Gleicher et al., functional autoantibodies could contribute to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome, which represents a hyperfunction of follicular recruitment in the ovaries. Moreover, elevated anti-TPO levels have been associated with poor treatment response in euthyroid infertile women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome. Whether premature ovarian failure could be linked to thyroid autoimmunity is still a matter of debate.
Data suggest that HT might increase the risk for early pregnancy loss, regardless of thyroid function. The mechanism by which antibodies might be responsible for pregnancy loss is still not clear.
HT is also of special importance to a woman's health in the event of a pregnancy. Euthyroid pregnant women with known HT run the risk of developing an acute worsening of thyroid function postpartum, leading to severe hypothyroidism ('postpartum thyroiditis'). Moreover, transient mild elevation of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has frequently been observed in the first month of life in infants born of euthyroid mothers who had autoimmune thyroiditis. Accordingly, follow-up has been recommended in these newborns.
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