Thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery: brief review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

About 10% of women in childbearing age are positive for thyroid antibodies. The presence of such antibodies has been associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes, in particular miscarriage and pre-term delivery, even though the strength of these associations varies widely from one study to another.

AIM:

To evaluate from the available data of the literature, the association between thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library search from 1990 to 2010. A combination of key words was used to generate 2 subset of citations, one indexing thyroid antibodies and the other indexing pre-term delivery as adverse outcome.

RESULTS:

Seven studies, collecting about 23,000 patients were selected. Meta-analysis of the studies showed an association between thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery [odds ratio =1.67 (confidence interval: 1.44- 1.94; p<0.001)].

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of the meta-analysis confirmed the association between thyroid autoimmunity and pre-term delivery. A cause-effect relationship has to be still clarified and interventional studies are required.

• Authors: R Negro
• Journal: Journal of endocrinological investigation (J Endocrinol Invest) Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 155-8 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1720-8386 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 21422804 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies

Topics

• Autoantibodies (blood, immunology)
• Autoimmunity (immunology)
• Databases, Factual
• Female
• Humans
• Pregnancy (immunology)
• Premature Birth (blood, immunology)
• Thyroid Gland (immunology)