Investigating the relationship between thyroid hormones with the risk level screening tests in the first trimester of pregnancy in hypothyroid women: A case-control study

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to assess the association between T3, T4, FT3, FT4, TSH, Anti TPO, Free BhCG, B-MOM, P-MOM, and NT-MOM with the risk level of screening tests in the first trimester of pregnancy in hypothyroid and control women. Methods In this case-control study, 82 pregnant women were enrolled. The ELISA method was performed to evaluate the serum levels of T3, free T3, T4, free T4, TSH, and Anti TPO, and the first stage of fetal screening tests including Free BhCG, B-MOM, P-MOM, NT-MOM were done by Electro-chemiluminescent (ECL) method., and finally data analysis was performed with SPSS statistical software. Results The average levels of TSH (p-value = 0.001), TPO (p-value = 0.006), trisomy 21 (p-value < 0.001), and trisomy 13/18 (p-value < 0.001) in the intervention group were significantly higher and PAPP-A was significantly (p-value < 0.001) lower than control group; However, there was no statistical difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean levels of beta-hCG (p-value = 0.297), B-MoM (p-value = 0.202), and NT-MoM (p-value = 0.221). Also, in the intervention with levothyroxine group, the mean serum TSH level was significantly higher in the screen positive group and the medium risk group of DS than the negative screen group (p-value = 0.014). Conclusion: It is suggested to identify hypothyroid pregnant mothers early and make it mandatory to perform timely fetal health screening tests in the first trimester of pregnancy in this group of mothers, with the aim of identifying fetuses at risk of developing chromosomal disorders. This should be the priority of maternal health policy makers.