Fetal treatment for thyrotoxicosis in non-thyrotoxic pregnant women

Fetal Ther. 1988;3(3):152-7. doi: 10.1159/000263347.

Abstract

Euthyroid or even hypothyroid pregnant women without antithyroid medication but with a history of treatment for thyrotoxicosis, almost always a subtotal strumectomy, may still produce thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins. This can induce fetal and neonatal thyrotoxicosis. Without treatment this results in a high fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Fetal treatment by administering antithyroid drugs during pregnancy improves this prognosis remarkably. A case is described, the literature is reviewed and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Fetal Diseases / etiology
  • Fetal Diseases / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • Pregnancy / immunology*
  • Propylthiouracil / therapeutic use*
  • Thyrotoxicosis / drug therapy*
  • Thyrotoxicosis / etiology
  • Thyrotoxicosis / immunology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • Propylthiouracil