Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies: Is There Any Added Value in the Detection of Thyroid Autoimmunity in Women Consulting for Fertility Treatment?

Background: Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is frequent in infertile women but to what extend thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Abs) contribute to TAI is unclear in literature. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of TAI in women consulting for fertility problems and to investigate the impact of isolated Tg-Abs, isolated thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Abs) and the presence of both Ab types on thyroid function. Furthermore, thyroid function was compared between women with - and without TAI and between infertile and fertile women. Methods: Cross-sectional data analysis nested within an ongoing prospective cohort study, to determine the prevalence of TAI in unselected women consulting our tertiary referral center for reproductive medicine (CRM). The women underwent a blood sample for the determination of serum TSH, FT4, TPO-Abs and Tg-Abs. Cause of infertility, age, BMI and smoking habits were recorded. Results: The prevalence of TAI was 16% (163/992); in 8% both types of antibodies were present, in 5% of women isolated positive Tg-Abs were found and 4% had isolated positive TPO-Abs (p=0.025 and p=0.003, respectively). The prevalence of TAI was significantly higher in infertile women as compared to that in fertile controls (19% versus 13%; p=0.047). The median serum TSH level was significantly higher in the women with TAI and with isolated positive Tg-Abs, compared to that in women without TAI (1.83 [1.44] and 1.90 [0.85] versus 1.47 [0.94] mIU/L; p

Publication year:2013