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Antenatal thyroid function, postpartum mood disorders linked
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American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 20th Annual Meeting
SAN DIEGO — New data from a small study support the presence of an association between antenatal thyroid function and the occurrence of postpartum mood disorders.
Eleni Armeni, MD, and colleagues in Greece presented data from a cross-sectional study of 57 adult, married women (gestational age, 35 to 38 weeks). Women did not have thyroid disease, obstetrical complications, eating disorders, or acute or chronic psychiatric disorders. The researchers evaluated postpartum mood swings using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Maternity Blue Questionnaire at admission for delivery and at the first and sixth weeks after delivery.
“Even in this small sample, our findings support the presence of an association between the occurrence of postpartum mood disorders and antenatal thyroid function,” the researchers said. “Within normal limits, lower levels of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) are associated with increased incidence of mood disturbances in the first postpartum week.”
According to the results, women with high scores on the mood disturbance scales had mean FT3 levels of 1.22 pg/mL and mean FT4 levels of 0.66 ng/dL. In contrast, those women who had low scores had higher mean FT3 levels of 1.64 pg/mL and mean FT4 levels of 0.73 ng/dL.
“If these findings are confirmed in larger prospective studies, screening of thyroid function during a routine antenatal visit might prove useful in assessing the risk for postpartum depression,” the researchers concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
For more information:
- Armeni L. Abstract 123. Presented at: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 20th Annual Meeting; April 13-17, 2011; San Diego.
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