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Reference Levels for TSH in Iodine-Sufficient Low-Risk Pregnant Women

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Abstract

Background

Recent evidence suggests that thyrotropin (TSH) levels are population specific because of differences in ethnicity. As a result, the 2017 ATA guidelines state that treatment may be tailored as per the laboratory-specific reference ranges of TSH for the local population instead of using a fixed upper limit of 2.5 mIU/L during pregnancy.

Methodology

This was a cross-sectional study in which we collected detailed clinical data of 604 pregnant women along with their TSH and spot urinary iodine excretion levels. Reflex testing for thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) was done in women with TSH levels > 2.5 mIU/L in 1st trimester and 3.0 mIU/L in 2nd and 3rd trimester. After excluding 295 women who had high risk factors as per ATA 2017 guidelines and those who were TPOAb positive, we calculated the reference range for TSH in an iodine-sufficient low-risk cohort of 309 women.

Results

With median urinary Iodine of 255 µg/l, our population had more than required iodine levels. The 5th and 95th percentiles of TSH in our study cohort of 604 women were 0.64 and 7.81 mIU/L, respectively, while the 5th and 95th percentiles of TSH for the low-risk cohort of 309 women were 0.59 and 4.48 mIU/L, respectively.

Conclusion

An upper limit of 4.5 mIU/L for TSH level during pregnancy can be used to guide management decisions for low-risk North Indian women.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the support provided by Professor Anju Huria for conducting this study. We would also like to acknowledge the efforts put in by Ms Kusum Chopra and Ms Deepti Dua who helped in compilation and analysis of the data. We thank our patients because without their cooperation the study would not have been possible.

Funding

This research project was funded by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology, Chandigarh.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

BG contributed to the concept and design of study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting the article. PG and JK performed refining the methodology and revising it critically for important intellectual content.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bharti Goel.

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Conflict of interest

None declared.

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The research project was approved by the Institutional research and ethics committee.

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Dr Bharti Goel is a Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GMCH, Chandigarh, India; Prof. Poonam Goel is a Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GMCH, Chandigarh, India; Prof. Jasbinder Kaur is a Prof & Head Department of Biochemistry, Director Principal, Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, India.

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Goel, B., Goel, P. & Kaur, J. Reference Levels for TSH in Iodine-Sufficient Low-Risk Pregnant Women. J Obstet Gynecol India 71, 596–599 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-021-01477-y

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