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| EMGARGOED FOR RELEASE Oct. 12, 2006, 3:30 p.m. PDT |
For more information, please contact the ATA at thyroid@thyroid.org. |
Doctors Could Benefit From Further Knowledge of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy
(PHOENIX)—Doctors have significant gaps in their knowledge about current research in thyroid disease during and after pregnancy, according to a new study being presented on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) in Phoenix.
“Our study highlights the need for an educational initiative devoted
to disseminating the recent research findings on thyroid abnormalities
in pregnant women,” said Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, a member of the
ATA and professor of medicine and associate dean for curriculum and faculty
development at the New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J.
Although thyroid disease is relatively common during and after pregnancy
among women in the United States, it can be complicated to manage. Women
undergo several hormonal changes during pregnancy, altering commonly used
tests to detect the disease. In addition, women with some thyroid disorders
require careful adjustments in their treatment during pregnancy and the
postpartum period.
Current research shows that thyroid abnormalities during a pregnancy may have a negative impact on the mother and her unborn child. Studies have found that women who have thyroid antibodies in the first trimester of pregnancy have a two- to four-fold increase in the rate of miscarriage, while women with subclinical hypothyroidism — a mildly underactive thyroid — have an increased risk of early delivery and placental abruption. Research also shows that alterations in thyroid function tests may be associated with decreased intelligence in newborns.
Researchers created a 16-item survey to find out the degree of knowledge that doctors knew about four different thyroid disorders during pregnancy: hypothyroidism during pregnancy, Graves’ disease during pregnancy, postpartum thyroiditis, and thyroid antibodies and pregnancy. Four hundred and three physicians, evenly divided between four medical specialties — obstetricians/gynecologists, internists, family practitioners, and endocrinologists — completed the survey.
Overall, doctors answered only two-thirds of the questions correctly. Endocrinologists scored highest, followed by obstetricians/gynecologists. Internists and family practitioners had the lowest scores. The survey shows that the degree of knowledge about thyroid disease and pregnancy is related to a doctor’s medical specialty, current medical position, years of training, treatment of pregnant women and confidence regarding their knowledge of thyroid disease and pregnancy. “More physician training on thyroid disease during pregnancy would ultimately result in increased detection of the disease and better patient care,” added M. D. Rinaldi, a medical student and lead author of the study.
For more information on thyroid disease and pregnancy, visit www.thyroid.org.
The newest research in mechanisms, diagnosis, and clinical management of thyroid disease will be the focus of the ATA Annual Meeting, Oct. 11–15, 2006, at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The meeting will bring together thyroid experts from the United States and around the world.
The ATA is the North American professional society for physicians and
researchers specializing in diseases of the thyroid gland. The ATA promotes
excellence and innovation in clinical care, research, education, and public
advocacy.
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