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Case 35 - A 35-Year-Old Presents at 8 Weeks’ Gestation with Tremor and Exophthalmos

from Section 4 - Antepartum (Medical Complications)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2025

Peter F. Schnatz
Affiliation:
The Reading Hospital, Pennsylvania
D. Yvette LaCoursiere
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
Christopher M. Morosky
Affiliation:
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Jonathan Schaffir
Affiliation:
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Vanessa Torbenson
Affiliation:
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
David Chelmow
Affiliation:
Virginia Commonwealth School of Medicine
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Summary

Hyperthyroidism occurs in 0.2–0.7% of pregnancies with the large majority due to Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition where TSH-receptor antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, leading to increased thyroid hormone and decreased TSH via negative feedback loop. Screening for thyroid disease is indicated in pregnant persons with personal or family history of thyroid disease, history of type 1 diabetes, or clinical features suspicious for thyroid disease. Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy is diagnosed by a low TSH and a high T4 or T3, based on trimester-specific and population-based reference ranges. Treatment is traditionally with PTU given in the first trimester to reduce risk of embryopathy and methimazole in the second and third trimester to reduce the risk of hepatotoxicity, but variation in practice exists. Thyroid hormone, not TSH, should be monitored every 2 to 4 weeks with the goal to keep T4 or T3 slightly above or within the high-normal reference range. While rare, thyroid storm is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate recognition and management in a tertiary care setting.

Type
Chapter
Information
Pregnancy Complications
A Case-Based Approach
, pp. 106 - 108
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 223. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135:e261–e274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, D, Laurberg, P. Hyperthyroidism in Pregnancy. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2013;3(1):238249.Google Scholar
Alexander, EK, Pearce, EN, Brent, GA, et al. 2017 Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease during Pregnancy and the Postpartum. Thyroid. 2017;27:315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ross, DS, Burch, HB, Cooper, DS, et al. 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid. 2016;26:1343.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Groot, L, Abalovich, M, Alexander, EK, et al. Management of Thyroid Dysfunction during Pregnancy and Postpartum: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:2543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pokhrel, B, Aiman, W, Bhusal, K. Thyroid Storm. StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448095/ (accessed October 3, 2024).Google Scholar

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