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Peripartum Thyroiditis

Eddie E Nance, MS, MD and Aaron Hancock, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) is an autoimmune-mediated destructive thyroiditis occurring within 1 year after delivery or spontaneous/induced abortion in women who were euthyroid duri...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Fatigue, weight loss, irritability, palpitations, tremor, hyperhidrosis, heat intolerance, anxiety (1)

  • Recently or currently pregnant

  • Painless swelling at anterior neck

PHYSICAL EXAM

Tac...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Most women become euthyroid within 1 year postpartum.

  • Treatment of hyperthyroid state should be initiated once the diagnosis is confirmed and the patient is symptomatic (3)[A...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow-up TSH testing is indicated every 4 to 6 weeks during replacement therapy or with changes in symptoms (1).

  • Women with a prior history of PPT should have TS...

REFERENCES

1
Argatska  AB, Nonchev  BI. Postpartum thyroiditis. Folia Med (Plovdiv).  2014;56(3):145–151. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
Alexander EK, P...

SEE ALSO

Hyperthyroidism; Hypothyroidism, Adult; Thyroiditis 

CODES

ICD10

O90.5 Postpartum thyroiditis 

SNOMED

  • 10760041000119103 Thyroiditis in mother complicating childbirth

  • 10760381000119106 Thyroiditis in pregnancy

  • 52772002 Postpartum thyroiditis

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • TSH is the most sensitive measure of thyroid function in the peripartum period.

  • Free T4 is affected due to increased thyroxine-binding globulin secondary to increased estrogen productio...

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