The course and out-come of a pregnancy superimposing untreated Graves' thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this case report is to highlight the occurrence of a pregnancy in an African woman with untreated Graves' thyrotoxicosis; there being a virtual absence in the literature of reports about similar observations in humans. Case report: Described here is one case of a pregnancy that occurred in a Nigerian woman with unrecognized Graves' thyrotoxicosis. The pregnancy was carried until the 25th week before thyrotoxicosis was correctly diagnosed and antithyroid therapy instituted. Aspects of the course and out-come of the pregnancy relevant to the current understanding of the relationship between maternal thyroid hyper function and foetal development are discussed. Conclusion: It is concluded that the mechanisms involved in the adverse foetal developmental effects of thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy are complex and yet to be fully understood.

Keywords

• graves' disease
• thyrotoxicosis
• pregnancy
• pregnancy outcome