A new study has found that the risk of placental separation during labor -- a condition also known as placental abruption -- is three times higher than usual in pregnant women who have elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies. (Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are sometimes abbreviated anti-TPO antibodies.) Placental abruption is rare, but can be fatal, and involves the separation of the placenta from the uterus prior to or during labor.
The researchers still need to determine whether thyroid treatment will help reduce the risk, or whether screening would be useful.
The study will be published in the August 2010 issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Read more about placental abruption here at About.com.
More On Pregnancy and Thyroid Disease
- Fertility, Pregnancy & Thyroid Disease Information Center
- Managing Thyroid Disease During and After Pregnancy: Guidelines
- Asymptomatic Thyroid Problems in Mother Can Harm Newborn
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I am fascinated to read this as my 1st son was born at 32 weeks due to a placental abruption. I have always sort an explanation for this as I had a very healthy pregnancy. I actually asked my GP to check my thyroid levels a few months after his birth as I felt I had some of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid and low and behold I am hypothyroid and am now on medication. I find this article quite comforting as I know that some women can have a placental abruption if they have smoked, drank or taken drugs during their pregnancy. I do not know why one’s thyroid levels are not tested along with the rest of the bloodwork that is done during one’s pregnancy. It certainly would have saved a lot of heartache as it was a dreadful introduction to motherhood.