Jianhua Liu1, Xiaojun Yu1, Meng Xia2, Hong Cai3, Guixue Cheng1, Lina Wu1, Qiang Li1, Ying Zhang1, Mengyuan Sheng1, Yong Liu1, Xiaosong Qin4. 1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. 2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China. 3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China. 4. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Electronic address: qinxs@sj-hospital.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A laboratory- and region-specific trimester-related reference interval for thyroid hormone assessment of pregnant women was recommended. Whether the division by trimester is suitable requires verification. Here, we tried to establish appropriate reference intervals of thyroid-related hormones and antibodies for normal pregnant women in Northeast China. METHODS: A total of 947 pregnant women who underwent routine prenatal care were grouped via two methods. The first method entailed division by trimester: stages T1, T2, and T3. The second method entailed dividing T1, T2, and T3 stages into two stages each: T1-1, T1-2, T2-1, T2-2, T3-1, and T3-2. Serum levels of TSH, FT3, FT4, Anti-TPO, and Anti-TG were measured by three detection systems. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in TSH values between T1-1 group and the non-pregnant women group. However, the TSH value of the T1-1 group was significantly higher than that of T1-2 group (P<0.05). The TSH values in stage T3-2 increased significantly compared to those in stage T3-1 measured by three different assays (P<0.05). FT4 and FT3 values decreased significantly in the T2-1 and T2-2 stages compared to the previous stage (P<0.05). The serum levels of Anti-TPO and Anti-TG were not having significant differences between the six stages. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy should base on pregnancy- and method-specific reference intervals. More detailed staging is required to assess the thyroid function of pregnant women before 20 gestational weeks.
BACKGROUND: A laboratory- and region-specific trimester-related reference interval for thyroid hormone assessment of pregnant women was recommended. Whether the division by trimester is suitable requires verification. Here, we tried to establish appropriate reference intervals of thyroid-related hormones and antibodies for normal pregnant women in Northeast China. METHODS: A total of 947 pregnant women who underwent routine prenatal care were grouped via two methods. The first method entailed division by trimester: stages T1, T2, and T3. The second method entailed dividing T1, T2, and T3 stages into two stages each: T1-1, T1-2, T2-1, T2-2, T3-1, and T3-2. Serum levels of TSH, FT3, FT4, Anti-TPO, and Anti-TG were measured by three detection systems. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in TSH values between T1-1 group and the non-pregnant women group. However, the TSH value of the T1-1 group was significantly higher than that of T1-2 group (P<0.05). The TSH values in stage T3-2 increased significantly compared to those in stage T3-1 measured by three different assays (P<0.05). FT4 and FT3 values decreased significantly in the T2-1 and T2-2 stages compared to the previous stage (P<0.05). The serum levels of Anti-TPO and Anti-TG were not having significant differences between the six stages. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy should base on pregnancy- and method-specific reference intervals. More detailed staging is required to assess the thyroid function of pregnant women before 20 gestational weeks.