Guideline advice of many societies on the management of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy suggests treatment when TSH serum levels exceed 2.5 mU/l. Justification of this procedure is based on limited experience, mainly from studies carried out in patients with positive thyroid-specific antibodies and higher TSH levels that classically define the condition in the non-pregnant state. Taking into account a lack of clear understanding of the regulation of thyroid hormone transport through the utero-placental unit and in the absence of foetal markers to monitor the adequacy of thyroxine treatment, this review attempts to discuss currently available data and suggests a more cautious approach.

doi.org/10.1530/EJE-14-1005, hdl.handle.net/1765/85883
European Journal of Endocrinology
Department of Internal Medicine

Brabant, G., Peeters, R., Chan, S. Y., Bernal, J., Bouchard, P., Salvatore, D., … Laurberg, P. (2015). Management of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy: Are we too simplistic?. European Journal of Endocrinology (Vol. 173, pp. P1–P11). doi:10.1530/EJE-14-1005