Maternal thyroid function during pregnancy and child brain morphology: a time window-specific analysis of a prospective cohort

Publication date: Available online 28 June 2019Source: The Lancet Diabetes & EndocrinologyAuthor(s): Toyah A Jansen, Tim I M Korevaar, Tessa A Mulder, Tonya White, Ryan L Muetzel, Robin P Peeters, Henning TiemeierSummaryBackgroundAdequate thyroid hormone availability during pregnancy is necessary for optimal fetal brain development. During the first 18–20 weeks of gestation, fetal thyroid hormone availability largely depends on the placental transfer of maternal thyroxine. Although various studies have shown that maternal thyroid dysfunction is associated with suboptimal child neurodevelopmental outcomes, the most vulnerable time window remains to be identified. The aim of this study is to examine the association of maternal thyroid function with child brain morphology and to study whether any association depends on the timing of thyroid assessment.MethodsThis prospective cohort study was part of the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a prospective population-based birth cohort. Pregnant women living in Rotterdam with an expected delivery date between April 1, 2002, and Jan 1, 2006, were eligible. Other inclusion criteria were maternal serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) measurement in early or mid-pregnancy (≤18 weeks) and available brain MRI data for child at age 10 years. Exclusion criteria were pre-existing thyroid disorder, thyroid disorder treatment, twin pregnancy, in-vitro fertilisation-induced pregnancy, and suboptimal...
Source: The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research