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Medical Management of the Pregnant Patient pp 321–340Cite as

Thyroid Disease

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Abstract

Thyroid disorders are common in pregnancy. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism need to be monitored closely during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Etiology of thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy includes HCG-mediated thyrotoxicosis, Graves’ disease (i.e., autoimmune), and postpartum thyroiditis.

Antithyroid drugs can be prescribed for Graves’ disease. Fetal thyrotoxicosis, goiter, and even fetal hypothyroidism (i.e., secondary to overtreatment) are potential complications. In patients with hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement may need to be increased by as much as 25–50 % during the course of pregnancy.

Both diffuse and nodular growth of the thyroid gland can occur in pregnancy; however, thyroid cancer and compressive symptoms are rare.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Mae Whelan M.D. (Endocrinology Fellow)

  2. The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Mae Whelan M.D. (Endocrinology Fellow) & Geetha Gopalakrishnan M.D.

  3. OB Medicine-Endocrinology and Diabetes in Pregnancy, Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Geetha Gopalakrishnan M.D.

  4. Hallett Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Geetha Gopalakrishnan M.D.

Authors
  1. Mae Whelan M.D.
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  2. Geetha Gopalakrishnan M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geetha Gopalakrishnan M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. SVP Women’s Services and Clinical Integration, Lifespan Corporation, Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine Director of Obstetric Medicine, Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Karen Rosene-Montella

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Whelan, M., Gopalakrishnan, G. (2015). Thyroid Disease. In: Rosene-Montella, K. (eds) Medical Management of the Pregnant Patient. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1244-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1244-1_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1243-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1244-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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