Can Thyroid Screening in the First Trimester Improve the Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) marker, elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid antibodies in their ability to predict subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In a prospective clinical trial, 230 pregnant women were screened for thyroid function during the first trimester of pregnancy. Increased TSH levels with normal free thyroxine (fT4) were considered SCH. The titers of thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti TPO Ab) at >35 IU/mL and thyroglobulin antibody (anti Tg Ab) at >115 IU/mL were considered as antibodies present. According to the OGTT results, the number of pregnant women with GDM showed the expected growth trend, which was 19%. Two groups of pregnant women were compared, one with GDM and the other without. Increased TSH levels and the presence of thyroid antibodies showed a positive correlation with the risk of GDM. TSH levels were significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM, p = 0.027. In this study, 25.6% of pregnant women met the diagnostic criteria for autoimmune thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was significantly more common in GDM patients, p < 0.001. Through multivariate logistic regression, it was demonstrated that patient age, TSH 4 IU/mL, and anti TPO Ab > 35 IU/mL are significant predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus that may improve first-trimester pregnancy screening performance, AUC: 0.711; 95% CI: 0.629-0.793.

Automated summary

This study assessed the clinical utility of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) marker, elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid antibodies in predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The results showed a positive correlation between increased TSH levels and the presence of thyroid antibodies with the risk of GDM. Patient age, TSH 4 IU/mL, and anti TPO Ab > 35 IU/mL were identified as significant predictors of GDM, improving the screening performance in the first trimester of pregnancy.