Postpartum thyroiditis natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sunny Kumar MD [2]

Overview

Prognosis for postpartum thyroiditis is generally good. If left untreated, 25 to 30% patients develop hypothyroidism, 3.5 to 8.7-years after developing postpartum thyroiditis (PPT). The symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis usually develop in the twelve months after delivery, abortion or miscarriage of fetus. The symptoms of PPT depend on its clinical course such as classic triphasic, biphasic hyerthyroidism, or biphasic hypothyroidism. Common complications of PPT include hypothyroidism, postpartum depression, and fetal mental retardation. The mother may develop overt hyperthyroid symptoms in future pregnancies. Prognosis of PPT is generally good and 90% of patient recover to normal state after postpartum period.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

The symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) usually develop in the twelve months after delivery, abortion or miscarriage of fetus.
The symptoms of PPT depend on its clinical course such as:

Classic triphasic: 25% patients of PPT come to clinical attention with symptoms of hyperthyroidism starting from sixth postpartum week followed by hypothyroidism around sixth postpartum month and then euthyroidism by the of 12th postpartum month.^[1]^[2]
Biphasic hyperthyroidism: 32 % patients of PPT develop symptoms of hyperthyroidism followed by recovery.^[2]
Biphasic hypothyroidism: 43 % patients of PPT develop symptoms of hypothyroidism followed by recovery.^[2]

If left untreated, 25-30% of patients with PPT may progress to develop hypothyroidism.^[3]
Patients who are positive for anti-TPO antibodies, HLA-DRW9 and/or HLA-DRB51, and developed hypothyroid phase of PPT, are at increased risk of developing permanent hypothyroidism.^[4]^[5]

Complications

Common complications of postpartum thyroiditis include:
- Hypothyroidism^[6]
- Postpartum depression^[7]
- Recurrence^[8]
- Fetal mental retardation^[9]
- Future pregnancies may present with features of overt hyperthyroidism^[8]

Prognosis

Prognosis is generally good and 90% of patient with PPT recover to normal state after postpartum period.^[10]
If left untreated, 25 to 30% patients develop hypothyroidism, 3.5 to 8.7-years after developing postpartum thyroiditis (PPT).^[3]

References

↑ Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Stagnaro-Green A (2012). “Approach to the patient with postpartum thyroiditis”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 97 (2): 334–42. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-2576. PMID 22312089.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Premawardhana LD, Parkes AB, Ammari F, John R, Darke C, Adams H; et al. (2000). “Postpartum thyroiditis and long-term thyroid status: prognostic influence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and ultrasound echogenicity”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85 (1): 71–5. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.1.6227. PMID 10634366.
↑ Tachi J, Amino N, Tamaki H, Aozasa M, Iwatani Y, Miyai K (1988). “Long term follow-up and HLA association in patients with postpartum hypothyroidism”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 66 (3): 480–4. doi:10.1210/jcem-66-3-480. PMID 3162458.
↑ Stuckey, B G A; Kent, G N; Ward, L C; Brown, S J; Walsh, J P (2010). “ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Postpartum thyroid dysfunction and the long-term risk of hypothyroidism: results from a 12-year follow-up study of women with and without postpartum thyroid dysfunction”. Clinical Endocrinology. 73 (3): 389–395. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03797.x. ISSN 0300-0664.
↑ Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.
↑ Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Amino N, Mori H, Iwatani Y, Tanizawa O, Kawashima M, Tsuge I; et al. (1982). “High prevalence of transient post-partum thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism”. N Engl J Med. 306 (14): 849–52. doi:10.1056/NEJM198204083061405. PMID 7062963.
↑ Hayslip CC, Fein HG, O’Donnell VM, Friedman DS, Klein TA, Smallridge RC (1988). “The value of serum antimicrosomal antibody testing in screening for symptomatic postpartum thyroid dysfunction”. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 159 (1): 203–9. PMID 3394739.
↑ Alemu A, Terefe B, Abebe M, Biadgo B (2016). “Thyroid hormone dysfunction during pregnancy: A review”. Int J Reprod Biomed (Yazd). 14 (11): 677–686. PMC 5153572. PMID 27981252.

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[pmid10874538-1] Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.

[pmid22312089-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Stagnaro-Green A (2012). “Approach to the patient with postpartum thyroiditis”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 97 (2): 334–42. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-2576. PMID 22312089.

[pmid10634366-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Premawardhana LD, Parkes AB, Ammari F, John R, Darke C, Adams H; et al. (2000). “Postpartum thyroiditis and long-term thyroid status: prognostic influence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and ultrasound echogenicity”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85 (1): 71–5. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.1.6227. PMID 10634366.

[pmid3162458-4] Tachi J, Amino N, Tamaki H, Aozasa M, Iwatani Y, Miyai K (1988). “Long term follow-up and HLA association in patients with postpartum hypothyroidism”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 66 (3): 480–4. doi:10.1210/jcem-66-3-480. PMID 3162458.

[StuckeyKent2010-5] Stuckey, B G A; Kent, G N; Ward, L C; Brown, S J; Walsh, J P (2010). “ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Postpartum thyroid dysfunction and the long-term risk of hypothyroidism: results from a 12-year follow-up study of women with and without postpartum thyroid dysfunction”. Clinical Endocrinology. 73 (3): 389–395. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03797.x. ISSN 0300-0664.

[pmid108745383-6] Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.

[pmid108745382-7] Stagnaro-Green A (2000). “Recognizing, understanding, and treating postpartum thyroiditis”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 29 (2): 417–30, ix. PMID 10874538.

[pmid7062963-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Amino N, Mori H, Iwatani Y, Tanizawa O, Kawashima M, Tsuge I; et al. (1982). “High prevalence of transient post-partum thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism”. N Engl J Med. 306 (14): 849–52. doi:10.1056/NEJM198204083061405. PMID 7062963.

[pmid3394739-9] Hayslip CC, Fein HG, O’Donnell VM, Friedman DS, Klein TA, Smallridge RC (1988). “The value of serum antimicrosomal antibody testing in screening for symptomatic postpartum thyroid dysfunction”. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 159 (1): 203–9. PMID 3394739.

[pmid27981252-10] Alemu A, Terefe B, Abebe M, Biadgo B (2016). “Thyroid hormone dysfunction during pregnancy: A review”. Int J Reprod Biomed (Yazd). 14 (11): 677–686. PMC 5153572. PMID 27981252.

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