Naheeda Kousar, Muhammad Tayyab, Allah Ditta, Sultan Muhammad Abid, Naseer Ahmad Chaudhry.
Clinical importance of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO-Ab) determination in pregnancy.
Pak J Pathol Jan ;8(2):31-6.

Pregnant women with positive thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO-Ab) run an increased risk for developing postpartum thyroiditis (PIPT). Eighty clinically healthy pregnant women in third trimester were screened for TPO-Ab titres by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique and were followed 3-4 months postpartum. During pregnancy TPO-Ab seropositivity was seen in 17.5% cases. Serum thyroxine (T) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels done only in seropositive cases were within normal limits. After follow-up 21.25% cases showed TPO-Ab seropositivity 3-4 months postpartum. The rise in TPOAb titre was very significant in 23.5% of seropositive cases (5% of the total) who developed mild thyrotoxic phase of PPT. Serum T4 levels were increased above normal limits while serum TSH levels were decreased in them alongwith the clinical findings. Twenty non-pregnant women were included in the study as controls who were all seronegative for TPO-Ab showing significantly high prevalence of TPOduring pregnancy (p < 0.001).

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com