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July 2010

Case Reports|May 07 2010

Therapeutic Approach of Fetal Thyroid Disorders

Subject Area:Endocrinology,Women's and Children's Health

Michel Polak

aUniversité Paris Descartes, Pediatric Endocrinology, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, INSERM U845, Paris, France;

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bDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Qué., Canada

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Horm Res Paediatr (2010) 74 (1): 1–5.

https://doi.org/10.1159/000297595

Article history

Received:

September 17 2009

Published Online:

May 07 2010

Accepted:

August 03 2010

Abstract

Recent advances in fetal imaging techniques and fetal hormonology allow the identification in the fetus of thyroid function disorders that can potentially be treated in utero by giving drugs to the mother. In women with Graves’ disease (when fetal hyperthyroidism is present), it can generally be treated in a noninvasive way by optimizing treatment of the mother. For goitrous nonimmune fetal hypothyroidism leading to hydramnios, intra-amniotic injections of thyroxine have been reported to decrease the size of the fetal thyroid. Experience with such a procedure is limited and the risk of provoking premature labor or infections should be carefully evaluated. Thus, follow-up of the efficacy and the possible long-term undesired consequences of medical interventions administered to the fetus are of great importance. Such interventions should only be performed by specialized teams with extensive experience in perinatal care.

Keywords:

Graves’ disease,Hypothyroidism,Fetal goiter

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2010

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