It is well known that the long-term prognosis of postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) is excellent except recurrent PPT in subsequent pregnancies and risk of progression to permanent hypothyroidism in some patients. However, the prospective observation of PPT patients who have neither consecutive gestation nor any evidence of hypothyroidism were limited. We describe three patients who have history of PPT and showed repeated painless thyroiditis in the span of more than ten years. The clinical courses of repeated painless thyroiditis were the transient thyrotoxicosis, self-limited, and not related to pregnancy. Based on the clinical courses of our three patients, it is recommended to remember that transient painless thyroiditis could be repeated as a possible long-term course of the patients with history of PPT.
Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the past, subacute thyroiditis causing thyrotoxicosis included both painful and painless subgroup, but it is representative for the painful subacute thyroiditis these days. So we evaluated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of subacute thyroiditis and compared with the painless (silent) thyroiditis, and identified predictive factors of permanent hypothyroidism and recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series study analyzing clinical data of 221 consecutive patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2015. Medical records were reviewed for diagnostic route, age distribution, laboratory data, clinical course and long-term follow up outcome. RESULTS: The mean age was 48 years; female v/s male ratio 3.4:1. Median disease duration was 110 days; mean peak free T4 level was 2.9 ng/dL. 56.7% of painless thyroiditis patients were diagnosed on health checkup or routine thyroid function test with symptoms not typically associated with thyrotoxicosis. Permanent hypothyroidism was not uncommon (11/221; 5.0%). Higher peak thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was associated with permanent hypothyroidism in painless thyroiditis. Lower peak TSH was associated with recurrence rate in both subacute and painless thyroiditis. In painless thyroiditis, short duration of thyrotoxicosis phase was also associated with recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Considerable numbers of painless thyroiditis without symptoms were diagnosed on health checkup. Higher peak TSH was associated with permanent hypothyroidism in painless thyroiditis. Recurrence rate was related with lower peak TSH in both groups.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Male ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis* ; Thyroiditis, Subacute* ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyrotropin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the past, subacute thyroiditis causing thyrotoxicosis included both painful and painless subgroup, but it is representative for the painful subacute thyroiditis these days. So we evaluated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of subacute thyroiditis and compared with the painless (silent) thyroiditis, and identified predictive factors of permanent hypothyroidism and recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series study analyzing clinical data of 221 consecutive patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2015. Medical records were reviewed for diagnostic route, age distribution, laboratory data, clinical course and long-term follow up outcome. RESULTS: The mean age was 48 years; female v/s male ratio 3.4:1. Median disease duration was 110 days; mean peak free T4 level was 2.9 ng/dL. 56.7% of painless thyroiditis patients were diagnosed on health checkup or routine thyroid function test with symptoms not typically associated with thyrotoxicosis. Permanent hypothyroidism was not uncommon (11/221; 5.0%). Higher peak thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was associated with permanent hypothyroidism in painless thyroiditis. Lower peak TSH was associated with recurrence rate in both subacute and painless thyroiditis. In painless thyroiditis, short duration of thyrotoxicosis phase was also associated with recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Considerable numbers of painless thyroiditis without symptoms were diagnosed on health checkup. Higher peak TSH was associated with permanent hypothyroidism in painless thyroiditis. Recurrence rate was related with lower peak TSH in both groups.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Male ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis* ; Thyroiditis, Subacute* ; Thyrotoxicosis ; Thyrotropin

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction occurs in 5-10% of women within one year after delivery. Women with hypothyroidism antedating pregnancy are at high risk for postpartum thyroiditis and should be closely monitored during the first year post-partum. Here, we report a case of recurrent hyperthyroidism between two episodes of postpartum thyroiditis in a woman diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism prior to pregnancy. It is of particular interest that spontaneously remitting hyperthyroidism as a sequela of postpartum thyroiditis can occur.
Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Hypothyroidism ; Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis* ; Pregnancy ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

The most common thyroid dysfunctions that occur after delivery are postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) and Graves' disease (GD). PPT is more likely to occur among patients who had a history of PPT or GD. For that reason, it is possible to assume that both PPT and GD occur concomitantly after delivery. Here we report two cases of atypical postpartum thyroid dysfunctions presenting the simultaneous occurrence of PPT and GD. A 31-year-old woman with history of PPT had thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism of PPT followed by GD with mild symptoms. The patient recovered quickly afterwards. In the second case, a 28-year-old woman with a history of GD presented with thyrotoxicosis of PPT followed by severe GD. The patient required long-term antithyroid treatment.
Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Graves' disease (GD) is caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). We used a recently introduced, technically enhanced TSI bioassay to assess its diagnostic value and determine the cut-off in patients in high iodine intake area. METHODS: In a cross-sectional setting, we collected serum from 67 patients with untreated GD, 130 with GD under treatment, 22 with GD in remission, 42 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 12 with subacute thyroiditis, 20 with postpartum thyroiditis, and 93 euthyroid controls. TSI was measured using the Thyretaintrade mark bioassay, which is based on Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with chimeric TSHR (Mc4). TSI levels are reported as a specimen-to-reference ratio percentage (SRR%). RESULTS: The TSI levels in patients with GD (either treated or not) were significantly higher than those of the remaining patients (p < 0.05). The new bioassay showed a sensitivity of 97.0% and a specificity of 95.9% with a cut-off value of 123.0 SRR% for GD. A weak correlation was found between TSI and thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII) (rs = 0.259, p = 0.03), but no correlation was found between TSI and tri-iodothyronine or free thyroxine. CONCLUSIONS: The Mc4-CHO bioassay showed comparable diagnostic value for GD with the conventional TBII assay. We propose a cut-off of 123.0 SRR% in areas where iodine intake is high.
Adult ; Animals ; *Biological Assay ; Biological Markers/blood ; CHO Cells ; Case-Control Studies ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Genes, Reporter ; Graves Disease/*diagnosis/immunology/therapy ; Hashimoto Disease/diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating/*blood ; Luciferases/genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postpartum Thyroiditis/diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Protein Binding ; Radioimmunoassay ; Receptors, Thyrotropin/genetics/*metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; Republic of Korea ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroiditis, Subacute/diagnosis ; Transfection

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy affects the course of Graves' Disease (GD), and patients who initially maintain euthyroid function into their middle trimester with minimum doses of antithyroid drugs become exacerbated after delivery. Even patients who are completely cured, requiring no treatment during pregnancy, can relapse after delivery. In this study, we examined the postpartum changes in the thyroid functions of patients with GD, and attempted to determine the factors contributing to these changes. METHODS: The study subjects were recruited from pregnant women visiting our outpatient clinic for routine prenatal evaluations. 45 women previously diagnosed with GD, who had been treated and cured with hyperthyroidism, and were no longer taking any thyroid medications, were evaluated for 1 year post delivery. RESULTS: Among 45 patients, 20 (44.4%) developed thyroid disorders following delivery. Postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) developed in 8 patients (17.8%), and GD developed in 12 (26.0%). The onset of the PPT disease 3.1 +/- 1.4 months following delivery, which was significantly earlier than the 6.7 +/- 2.7 months required for the post delivery onset of GD (p=0.003). The TBII values, measured during the thyrotoxic state in each womaen, were negative in women with PPT and positive in 71.4% of women with GD (p=0.030). The duration of treatment for hyperthyroidism prior or pregnancy, the number of recurrences, and the time interval without treatment, were not associated with the development of postpartum thyroid disorders. Whereas, the mean number of past pregnancies for women who developed PPT was 3.9 +/- 2.1, and was significantly higher than the 2.2+/- 1.7 for women developing no thyroid dysfunctions (p=0.044). In 13 women their initial onset of GD occurred within one year postpartum, 7 (53.8%) having had a recurrence, which was significantly higher than in women whose disease onset occurred unrelated to delivery (5 of 32 women: 15.6%). CONCLUSION: Women with GD developed postpartum thyroid dysfunctions in 44.4% of cases. Women whose initial disease onset occurred within one year postpartum had higher recurrences of GD, and women who developed PPT had a history of higher gravidity compared to the euthyroid women postpartum. Therefore, if women with GD develop postpartum thyroid dysfunctions, the diagnosis should be made, and a treatment modality planned, following careful considerations of the patients' past obstetric history, changes in clinical manifestations and the TBII values.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Antithyroid Agents ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Gravidity ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Recurrence* ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: It is known that pregnancy markedly influences the clinical course of autoimmune thyroid diseases. In the postpartum period, various kinds of autoimmune thyroid dysfunctions can be observed. Thyroid dysfunction is found in 5.5-7.1% of postpartum women in the general population. Among those who show thyroid dysfunction after delivery, some will develop Graves' disease and others will develop postpartum thyroiditis. It is also known that patients with Graves' disease may manifest thyrotoxicosis in the postpartum period because of postpartum thyroiditis or relapse of the Graves' disease itself. We evaluated the clinical features of postpartum thyrotoxicosis in Graves' disease patients to find diagnostic indices that could be used in differentiating between postpartum thyroiditis and relapse of Graves' disease. METHOD: We reviewed the cases with postpartum thyrotoxicosis in patients that had a history of Graves' disease between 1995 and 2000. The diagnosis of postpartum thyroiditis had been made by means of a 99mTc thyroid scan or by the observation of a typical triphasic thyroid function change, in cases where a 99mTc thyroid scan was not possible because of breast feeding. We measured the serum TSH, free T4, free T3, TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII), anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody, and anti- thyroglobulin (Tg) antibody serially from the time of the diagnosis of Graves' disease to the time of postpartum thyroid dysfunction. RESULTS: Eleven patients, 5 patients in the postpartum thyroiditis (PPT group) and 6 patients with relapse of the Graves' disease (GD group), were identified. The mean values of TBII of two groups at the time of diagnosis of Graves' disease were 40.9+/-4.8 IU/mL (PPT group), 58.9+/-23.5 IU/mL (GD group) respectively, which were insignificant. The mean values of TBII of the two groups at early pregnancy were 3.2+/-1.9 IU/mL (PPT group), 41.6+/-22.6 IU/mL (GD group) and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.009). The mean values of TBII of the two groups at the time of postpartum thyrotoxicosis were 1.9+/-1.6 IU/mL (PPT group), 51.5+/-23.2 IU/mL (GD group) which were also statistically significant (p=0.003). The mean values of anti-TPO antibody, anti-Tg antibody, disease duration, and treatment duration between the two groups were not significantly different. The onsets of thyroid dysfunction after delivery in the two groups were 2.6+/-2.0 (PPT group), 4.0+/-3.9 (GD group) months which were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the measurement of TBII at the time of the postpartum thyrotoxic period, could help to differentiate postpartum thyroiditis from a relapse of Graves' disease in those patients that have a history of Graves' disease especially when thyroid scan is not possible because of breast feeding.
Breast Feeding ; Diagnosis ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Peroxidase ; Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Recurrence ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND: Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid dysfunction that occurs in the first year after a delivery. Although a postpartum thyroid dysfunction after a full-term pregnancy is well described, little is known about its association with an abortion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and laboratory findings in thyroid dysfunction that develops after abortion and to investigate the differences in the clinical course according to the types of abortion. METHODS: Thirty patients who were proven to have thyroid dysfunction after either spontaneous or an elective abortion were studied. We analyzed their past history, the type of abortion, their clinical features, the laboratory findings and the courses of the disease. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were hypothyroid and 13 were thyrotoxic at the time of the initial thyroid function evaluation. In the thyrotoxic group, the T3 and free T4 were significantly higher but the TSH was lower than in the hypothyroid group. The titers of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibody were not different between the two groups. In the thyrotoxic group, 3 cases showed normal values, 2 cases were hypothyroid and the remaining 8 cases were persistently thyrotoxic during the 2 months of observation. TSH receptor antibodies were absent in all of the transient thyrotoxic patients, but they were present in 83.3% of the persistent thyrotoxic patients. The clinical manifestations of the thyroid dysfunction were not different according to the type of abortion. CONCLUSION: Reproductive-age women who have an abnormal thyroid function require careful history taking with respect to their history of regarding parturition or abortion in order to evaluate the possibility of a transient thyroid dysfunction after the abortion.
Antibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Gland*

Postpartum thyroiditis is a common but frequently unrecognized disorder, affecting approximately 5% of women during the first 12 months after delivery. It is characterized by transient hyperthyroidism occurring about 14 weeks postpartum followed by transient hypothyroidism at 19 weeks postpartum. Our aim is to investigate the prevalence of positive antimicrosomal antibody in women 3 months postpartum and an association of antimicrosomal antibody with symptomatic and biochemical thyroid disorders. We used data collected from 205 women who visited Dankook University Hospital in 3 months postpartum, Our results showed that the rate of positive antithyroid microsomal antibody was 12.7% in women 3 months postpartum and the prevalence of biochemical hyperthyroidism and biochemical hypothyroidism with positive antithyroid microsomal antibody women 3 months postpartum were 26.9% and 19.2%, respectively. The prevalence of postpartum biochemical thyroid dysfuncion 3 months postpartum was 13.7%. There was no relationship between any of the following factors and thyroid antibody status: fetal distress, birth weight and infant sex, matemal age, experiences and mode of delivery, previous medical disease(such as pstrointestinal and psychotic diseases), experiences of previous abortions, gestational age and past history of thyroid diseases.
Abortion, Induced ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Infant ; Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis* ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland