Measurement of Serum Free Thyroxine by RIA in Normal Populations and During Pregnancy

Serum Free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations have been variously reported as either constant or falling in pregnancy. In this study , 177 serum samples from apparently normal preggnancies were used to derive trimester related euthyroid ranges throughout pregnancy for free T4 measured by Diagnostic Products and Amersham kits. Serum free T4 concentrations as determined by Amersham kits were shown to be significantly reduced in the second and third trimester (P\>0.05) . The free T4  concentrations measured by Diagnostic Products Kits fell with increasing gestational age especically in the third trimester, but the range of values were not significantly reduced from normal non-pregnant women. The observation that serum FT4 concentrations may fall as gestation progressed , as demonstrated by both the Amersham and Diagnostic Products radioimmunoassay technique, suggests that diagnosis and management thyroid disorders in pregnancy, tricester related reference ranges for FT4 must be used in pregnancy if the test is to correctly interpreted.

Condyloma acuminata in pregnancy

 Condyloma acuminata in pregnancy is not rare. It can cause many significant complications such as mechanical dystocia, increased incidence of both maternal and fetal infections, vaginal hemorrhage and genital tract trauma. Furthermore, it may involve in carcinomatous changes of maternal and fetal genital tract and tracheobronchial papillomatosis in children. A variety of treatment methods have been tried during pregnancy with varying success and some methods may cause maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The aim of treatment is to eradicate the lesions as much as possible before labor and delivery which may reduce the prevalence of respiratory papillomatosis in children. Long-term follow up in both mother and fetus is necessary for early detection of possible neoplasia of lower genital tract.

The diagnosis and manadgement of Hyperthyroidism in Pregnancy

Hyperthyroidism occuring during pregnancy is not rare; its prevalence is about 0.2 percent. Thyrotoxicosis results in a significant increase in the prevalence of impaired fertility , abortion , low birth weight and increase in neonatal mortality.Graves’ disease is the major cause of thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy which tend to have remission during pregnancy and exacerbation during the postpartum period because of immunologic changes that occur during pregnancyThe classic clinical featuresof hyperthyroidism may occur in euthyroid pregnant woman. Because of this, hyperthyroidism is more difficult to diagnose clinically in a pregnant woman. Problems in making the clinical diagnosis are composed of changing in thyroid function tests during pregnancy which make the laboratory diagnosis difficult. Even after the diagnosis is made, the decision about therapy must also take the presence of the fetus into account.