Women with preeclampsia more likely to have thyroid problems

November 18, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News, Pregnancy

Women who develop the condition preeclampsia during pregnancy may be at greater risk of reduced thyroid function and may be more likely to develop thyroid problems later in life.

A combined analysis of two different studies in the U.S. and Norway has led researchers to believe there is a link between preeclampsia and hypothyroidism.

Preeclampsia is a condition where significantly elevated blood pressure may cause complications in pregnancy and potentially damage the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Hypothyroidism is essentially the state of having an underactive thyroid, potentially leading to symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue, and even depression.

The U.S. study made comparisons between two groups of 140 healthy pregnant women, where one group had developed preeclampsia during pregnancy and the other did not. That study found that the women who suffered preeclampsia were more likely to have reduced thyroid activity.

The Norwegian study focused on over 7,000 women who gave birth in the 1960s. Over 20 years later, the researchers tested the women’s thyroid functions. Those researchers discovered that the women that dealt with preeclampsia during any pregnancy had a higher likelihood of reduced thyroid function.

Dr. Donald Peebles, consultant obstetrician for the University College Hospital London, told the BBC that the results of the studies suggest that the treatment of preeclampsia would not be affected, but doctors may need to monitor women who develop the condition for thyroid problems.

“Pregnancy tends to unmask conditions that may be already underlying, and this may be the case here,” he told the BBC.

Dr. Susan B. Shurin, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, offered optimism to women regarding the findings.

“The findings suggest that the possible development of hypothyroidism is a consideration in patients with a history of preeclampsia,” said Shurin.

“Reduced thyroid functioning is easy to diagnose when suspected and inexpensive to treat. Replacement therapy substantially improves quality of life of affected persons.”