This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Prevalence, Clinical Course, and Long-term Follow-up

Thomas F. Nikolai, MD; Susan L. Turney, MD; Ronald C. Roberts, PhD

Arch Intern Med. 1987;147(2):221-224.

Abstract
• A group of 238 women were surveyed for thyroid disease at six and 12 weeks post partum. Twenty-seven (11.3%) of 238 entered into the study were found to have thyroid disease. Fifteen (56%) of 27 had positive microsomal hemagglutinin antibody titers. A spectrum of thyroid disease was found: persistent hypothyroidism (two patients), transient thyrotoxicosis followed by persistent hypothyroidism (one) or transient hypothyroidism (three), euthyroid goiter (five), transient thyrotoxicosis (seven), transient hypothyroidism (three), high-normal thyroxine levels (five), and low-normal thyroxine levels (one). All nine patients who underwent biopsy had active lymphocytic thyroiditis. Three-year follow-up of 25 of the 27 affected individuals revealed that 12 (48%) still had thyroid disease. This study demonstrates that there is a high incidence of postpartum thyroid disease, usually of a transient nature, and that only about one fourth of the cases are detected or clinically obvious.

(Arch Intern Med 1987;147:221-224)

Author Affiliations
From the Marshfield (Wis) Clinic and the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 21, 1986.

Reprint requests to Marshfield Clinic, 1000 Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449 (Dr Nikolai).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Prevalence and Incidence of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders in the United States: A Comprehensive Review
Golden et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2009;94:1853-1878.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The occurrence of permanent thyroid failure in patients with subclinical postpartum thyroiditis
Azizi
Eur J Endocrinol 2005;153:367-371.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Thyroiditis
Pearce et al.
NEJM 2003;348:2646-2655.
FULL TEXT  

Postpartum Thyroiditis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Women of Childbearing Age: Recent Insights and Consequences for Antenatal and Postnatal Care
Muller et al.
Endocr. Rev. 2001;22:605-630.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Postpartum Thyroiditis and Long-Term Thyroid Status: Prognostic Influence of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Ultrasound Echogenicity
Premawardhana et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2000;85:71-75.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Postpartum Thyroiditis in Women with Hypothyroidism Antedating Pregnancy?
Caixàs et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1999;84:4000-4005.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for Postpartum Thyroid Dysfunction in the General Population Is Beneficial
Amino et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1999;84:1813-1816.
FULL TEXT  

The Time Is Not Ripe To Screen
Crapo
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1999;84:1816-1819.
FULL TEXT  

Postpartum Thyroiditis: The Case For Selective Screening
Stagnaro-Green
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1999;84:1819-1821.
FULL TEXT  

Outcome of Hypothyroidism Caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Comtois et al.
Arch Intern Med 1995;155:1404-1408.
ABSTRACT  

How Common Is Postpartum Thyroiditis? A Methodologic Overview of the Literature
Gerstein
Arch Intern Med 1990;150:1397-1400.
ABSTRACT  

Screening for Thyroid Disease
Helfand and Crapo
ANN INTERN MED 1990;112:840-849.
ABSTRACT