[The course of pregnancy in congenital thyroid gland aplasia. Case report with special reference to maternal hypothyroidism].

A report is given on a 28 years old women with congenital aplasia of the thyroid gland. She was substituted with thyroxine (300 micrograms per day). Her first pregnancy was complicated by gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Delivery was by forceps. During the first trimester of her second pregnancy, bleedings occurred. The thyroid-stimulating hormone level (TSH-level) was increased (18.3 microU/ml). The patient did not show clinical signs of manifested hypothyroidism. The thyroxine dosis was increased. Bleedings disappeared. Labour was terminated and induced. Labour intra partum was hypoactive. The delivery was again by forceps. The newborn did not show any signals of hypothyroidism. Dysfunction of thyroid gland is associated with reduced fertility. Hypothyroidism in pregnancy is associated with an adverse outcome in fetal health as well as an increase in obstetric complications. Thyroid hormones play a vital role in fetal development and maturation of brain. Women with a hypothyroidism have a lower rate of pregnancy and a higher rate of spontaneous miscarriages compared to a normal population. Recognition and treatment of thyroid disorders in reproductive age occur before conception. Iodoprophylaxis is necessary for prevention of congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism). Iodoprophylaxis is necessary to prevent endemic goiter in pregnancy. Euthyroid goiter is an indication for a combined treatment with jodid and levothyroxine. Treatment should be individualized. Assessment of efficacy of treatment is based on measurement of TSH- and free thyroid hormone (fT4)-levels.