Frontiers in Endocrinology (Feb 2021)

Associations Between Maternal Thyroid Function and Birth Outcomes in Chinese Mother-Child Dyads: A Retrospective Cohort Study

  • Geng-Dong Chen,
  • Geng-Dong Chen,
  • Ting-Ting Pang,
  • Xia-Fen Lu,
  • Peng-Sheng Li,
  • Zi-Xing Zhou,
  • Shao-Xin Ye,
  • Jie Yang,
  • Xiu-Yin Shen,
  • Dong-Xin Lin,
  • Da-Zhi Fan,
  • De-Mei Lu,
  • Zheng-Ping Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.611071
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

ObjectiveAlthough research suggests a close association between maternal thyroid function and birth outcomes, no clear conclusion has been reached. We aimed to explore this potential association in a retrospective cohort study.MethodsThis study included 8985 mother–child dyads. The maternal serum free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) concentrations and birth outcome data were reviewed from medical records. Subjects with TPO Ab concentrations of >34 and ≤34 IU/ml were classified into the TPO Ab positivity (+) and TPO Ab negativity (−) groups, respectively.ResultsCompared with subjects in the normal group (0.1 ≤ TSH < 2.5 mIU/L and TPO Ab−), those with TSH concentrations of 2.5–4.0 mIU/L and TPO Ab− had a 0.65-fold lower risk of low birth weight (LBW). In contrast, those with TSH concentrations of >4.0 mIU/L, regardless of the TPO Ab status, had a 2.01-fold increased risk of LBW. Subclinical hypothyroidism, regardless of the TPO Ab status, was associated with a 1.94-fold higher risk of LBW when compared with that in subjects with euthyroidism and TPO Ab−. No other significant associations were observed.ConclusionA maternal TSH concentration of 2.5–4.0 mIU/L was associated with a lower risk of LBW when combined with TPO Ab−, whereas subjects with a TSH concentration of >4.0 mIU/L had an increased risk of LBW. Subclinical hypothyroidism appears to be associated with a higher risk of LBW.

Keywords