Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyperthyroidism in Pregnancy / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Thyroid function fluctuates during pregnancy. Thus, assessments of thyroid activity during childbearing years represent an important health metric. Since anti-thyroid drugs are potentially teratogenic, drug dosing and timing should be carefully calculated. Normally, diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism is performed to determine underlying causes (i.e., Graves' disease), to predict disease course and to make appropriate therapeutic decisions. In cases of maternal hyperthyroidism, these same measures also require the insight regarding the relationship between pregnancy and thyroid function, the effects of anti-thyroid drugs on pregnancy outcomes.