Thyroid autoimmunity and its association with non-organ-specific antibodies and subclinical alterations of thyroid function in women with a history of pregnancy loss or preeclampsia

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology 2000-02, Vol.46 (1), p.39-50
• Main Authors: Mecacci, Federico, Parretti, Elena, Cioni, Riccardo, Lucchetti, Roberto, Magrini, Alessandra, La Torre, Pasquale, Mignosa, Marcella, Acanfora, Luisa, Mello, Giorgio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Habitual - genetics; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin - analysis; Antiphospholipid antibodies; Antithyroid antibodies; Autoantibodies - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Fetal Death - genetics; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin M - analysis; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; Iodide Peroxidase - immunology; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor - analysis; Medical sciences; Organ Specificity; Parity; Pre-Eclampsia - genetics; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy loss; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Receptors, Thyrotropin - analysis; Reproductive History; Thyroglobulin - immunology; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroid Gland - immunology
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-0378(99)00055-8

Following the observation that non-organ-specific antibodies are related with pregnancy loss and preeclampsia, the role of organ-specific antibodies is currently being extensively investigated. The aim of this study was on the one hand to evaluate the incidence of antithyroid antibodies in a study group of 69 women with a history of early pregnancy loss (subgroup 1), foetal death (subgroup 2) or preeclampsia (subgroup 3) and in a control group, on the other hand to assess the possible association of these autoantibodies with non-organ-specific antibodies and subclinical alterations of thyroid function in the study group. Antithyroid antibodies were present in 26/69 (37.7%) women of the study group (37.9% in subgroup 1; 40.9% in subgroup 2; 33.3% in subgroup 3) and in 10/69 (14.5%) of controls, the difference being statistically significant. A significant difference in the distribution of antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase was found in subgroup 2. In the study group, the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies was not significantly different in women positive (26.9%) and negative (34.9%) for antithyroid antibodies. Also, the overall incidence of subclinical alterations of thyroid function in the study group was significantly different in women positive (53.8%) and negative (16.2%) for thyroid autoimmunity ( P