Maternal low thyroxin levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in a Chinese population

PLoS One. 2017 May 23;12(5):e0178100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178100. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Although thyroid dysfunction in early pregnancy may have adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, few studies have examined the relationship between maternal low free thyroxin (FT4) levels in both first and third trimesters of pregnancy and the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. We hypothesized that low FT4 levels in either first or third trimesters of pregnancy may have different effects on pregnancy outcomes. The study included 6,031 mothers who provided both first and third pregnancy serum samples for analyses of thyroid function. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, were diagnosed using the oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure and urine protein test. Serum metabolites like adenosine and its analogues were identified using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The incidence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women tended to increase with age and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). The incidence of GDM was negatively correlated with maternal FT4 levels during early pregnancy while the incidence of preeclampsia was negatively correlated with maternal FT4 levels during late pregnancy. The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension was not significantly correlated with maternal FT4 levels. The women who had isolated maternal hypothyroxemia (IMH) in the third trimester of pregnancy had an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. Some metabolites like adenosine and its analogues in the serum were significantly changed in pregnant mothers with IMH. In conclusion, low FT4 levels during pregnancy are a risk factor for GDM and preeclampsia. Adenosine and its analogues may be important bridges between IMH and preeclampsia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • China
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Metabolome
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First / blood
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third / blood
  • Thyroxine / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Thyroxine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81471516) to JF, National Natural Science Foundation of China (81501274) to YZ, Shanghai Pujiang Program (15PJ1408900) to YZ and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (No. 15GWZK0701) to JF. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.