Application of povidone-iodine at delivery significantly increases maternal urinary iodine but not neonatal thyrotropin in an area with iodine sufficiency.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) application at delivery on maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and neonatal thyrotropin concentration.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, urine samples were collected from each pregnant woman after admission to the hospital and before routine application of the PVP-I for delivery preparation and after delivery at time of screening for congenital hypothyroidism. A heel-prick blood sample was taken from all newborns.

RESULTS

A total of 394 pregnant women at time of delivery participated in this study. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) maternal UIC values were 120 (105-157) and 253 (126-470) μg/L before and after delivery, respectively (p<0.001). No significant correlations were observed between maternal UIC before and after delivery and neonatal thyrotropin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of PVP-I significantly increased UIC in postpartum mothers; however, thyrotropin concentration in neonates, whose mothers had adequate UIC, was within the normal range.