A study recently published in the journal Endocrine describes possible guidelines for maintaining healthy thyroid function in subclinical hypothyroid women. Treatment was administered as levothyroxine at doses based on measured levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Fifty-six pregnant women were placed in three groups. Groups were established after TSH testing revealed current TSH levels. Patients started treatment in the 8th week of pregnancy with treatment continuing through the end of pregnancy. Group A (TSH levels between 2.5 and 5) was given 50 µg per day. Group B (TSH levels between 5 and 8) was given 75 µg per day. Group C (TSH levels above 8) was given 100 µg per day. TSH levels were maintained at 79.3%, 82.4% and 90% in groups A, B, and C, respectively.
Levothyroxine treatment can be used at varied doses during pregnancy to maintain TSH levels up to 90%. In some cases, TSH levels during treatment required changes in levothyroxine dose to maintain healthy levels. Changes occurred in the second and third trimesters. Researchers suggest testing TSH levels monthly throughout pregnancy to ensure TSH levels are maintained.
Source: Yu X, Chen Y, Shan Z, Teng W, Li C, Zhou W, Gao B, Shang T, Zhou J, Ding B, Ma Y, Wu Y, Liu Q, Xu H, Liu W, Li J, Wang W, Li Y, Fan C, Wang H, Zhang H, Guo R. The pattern of thyroid function of subclinical hypothyroid women with levothyroxine treatment during pregnancy. Endocrine. 2013 Mar 19.
