Soluble transferrin receptor levels among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is one of the medical problems that affect pregnant women in developing countries. It contributes considerably to the morbidity and mortality in pregnancy especially in areas where malaria is endemic. The concentration of soluble transferrin receptor is a reflection of body iron status. It is therefore, a valuable tool for assessing bone marrow erythropoetic activity and can also be a marker of iron deficiency.Methods: This study evaluated the levels of soluble transferrin receptor in pregnant subjects. A total of 275 pregnant subjects of age 20 to 45 years and 88 age-matched apparently healthy control subjects were involved in this study. Individuals who had severe anaemia, HIV infection, sickle cell disease or Hookworm infestation were excluded from this study. Five millilitres (5ml) of blood were collected from each consenting subject for the analysis of soluble transferrin receptor, haematological parameters and iron parameters using appropriate methods.Results: The mean value of parameters for the study subjects were sTfR( 21.16±9.11 nmol/L), Hb(9.05±1.22 g/dl), TIBC(332.61±80.87 µg/dl), Serum Iron(97.91±39.44 µg/dl), LIBC(239.36±80.52 µg/dl), TS(30.24±11.00 %) while for control subjects were sTfR(18.21±3.77 nmol/L), Hb(12.19±0.66 g/dl), TIBC(261.94±52.49µg/dl), Serum Iron(107.10±34.77 µg/dl), LIBC(155.52±61.25 µg/dl), TS(42.81±18.03 %). The mean sTfR levels in pregnant women was significantly lower (p<0.001) than in control subjects. The pregnant women also had significantly lower values of Hb (p<0.001), serum iron (p=0.038) and TS( p<0.001) values, and significantly higher values of TIBC(p<0.0001) and LIBC(p<0.0001). There were also increases in soluble transferrin receptor levels from first to third trimesters. The sensitivity of sTfR as against Serum iron parameters from this study was 76% while the specificity was 50%. The positive predictive value was 60% while the negative predictive value was 50%.Conclusions: sTfR may be a useful supplementary diagnostic tool in the management of anaemia in pregnancy.

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Haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations of pregnant women at term

Obstetric Medicine ◽

10.1258/om.2011.110033 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 152-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A Adediran ◽

A Gbadegesin ◽

T A Adeyemo ◽

A A Akinbami ◽

A S Akanmu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Blood Count ◽

Full Blood Count ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Mean Values ◽

Iron Stores ◽

The Mean ◽

Anaemia In Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy ◽

Hiv Negative

Background Anaemia in pregnancy is defined as haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of less than 11 g/dL while low ferritin is defined as serum ferritin (SR) levels of less than 10 µg/L. Hb and ferritin concentrations of pregnant women at term were determined to establish their mean values and to determine the prevalence of anaemia in our locality. Methods Haemoglobin and ferritin levels of 170 non-smoking and HIV-negative pregnant women were determined at term. The majority 143 of 170 (84.1%) of the pregnant women recruited for the study, booked at the beginning of the second trimester and received 200 mg elemental iron in three divided doses and 5 mg folic acid daily which were commenced at booking. Five millilitres of blood were collected from each patient at term into EDTA bottles for full blood count analysis and another 5 mL into plain bottles for SR assay. Results The mean Hb and ferritin values were 10.9 ± 1.9 and 47.84 ± 98.39 µg/L, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia at term was 46.4%. Only 11.2% (19 of 170) of pregnant women at term had low SR (iron stores). A statistically significant relationship was found between women's education and SR ( P = 0.032). Booking status also correlated directly with SR and haemoglobin concentrations, while increasing age and parity did not. Conclusion About half of the patients were anaemic. Iron deficiency is not the major cause of anaemia in pregnancy in this study because the majority of the pregnant women had normal iron stores. Education and booking status are possible factors that contribute to anaemia.

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Factors influencing stress, anxiety, and depression among Iranian pregnant women: the role of sexual distress and genital self-image

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03575-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Afsaneh Keramat ◽

Mina Malary ◽

Mahmood Moosazadeh ◽

Nastaran Bagherian ◽

Mohammad-Reza Rajabi-Shakib

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sexual Distress ◽

Self Image ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Severity Of Depression ◽

The Mean ◽

Distress Scale ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a unique period with the increased likelihood of psychological changes and emotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and stress. In this study, we investigated the factors influencing depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnancy and identify their associations with Sexual Distress (SD) and Genital Self-Image (GSI). Methods This was a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study performed using the two-stage cluster sampling method between September 2019 and January 2020. Overall, 295 pregnant women completed a demographics and obstetric information checklist, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSI), and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R). Results Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences in the mean scores of SD between the groups with varying degrees of depression, anxiety, and stress (P < 0.001) and in the mean score of GSI between the groups with varying degrees of depression (P = 0.01) and anxiety (P < 0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis, higher (worse) depression, anxiety, and stress scores were found in women with more advanced age and higher SD scores; however, these scores were lower (better) in those with increased gestational age. Lower depression and anxiety scores were associated with moderate satisfaction with income, moderate satisfaction with BI in pregnancy, and lower stress and depression scores were linked to planned pregnancy. Higher (better) GSI score was a predictor of lower depression score, complication in a previous pregnancy was a predictor of higher stress score, and finally, fear of fetal abortion and being a housewife were predictors of a higher anxiety score. Conclusion Various factors contribute to the development of antenatal depression, anxiety, and stress. A positive correlation was found between SD and the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress, while a negative correlation was noted between GSI and the severity of depression and anxiety. Therefore, raising awareness regarding SD and GSI through screening and counseling sessions can have beneficial effects for mothers and their fetuses.

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Interactions between Vitamin D Status, Calcium Intake and Parathyroid Hormone Concentrations in Healthy White-Skinned Pregnant Women at Northern Latitude

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10070916 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 916 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrea Hemmingway ◽

Karen O’Callaghan ◽

Áine Hennessy ◽

George Hull ◽

Kevin Cashman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Parathyroid Hormone ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Calcium Intake ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Metabolic System ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Mean ◽

In Pregnancy

Adverse effects of low vitamin D status and calcium intakes in pregnancy may be mediated through functional effects on the calcium metabolic system. Little explored in pregnancy, we aimed to examine the relative importance of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and calcium intake on parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in healthy white-skinned pregnant women. This cross-sectional analysis included 142 participants (14 ± 2 weeks’ gestation) at baseline of a vitamin D intervention trial at 51.9 °N. Serum 25(OH)D, PTH, and albumin-corrected calcium were quantified biochemically. Total vitamin D and calcium intakes (diet and supplements) were estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The mean ± SD vitamin D intake was 10.7 ± 5.2 μg/day. With a mean ± SD serum 25(OH)D of 54.9 ± 22.6 nmol/L, 44% of women were <50 nmol/L and 13% <30 nmol/L. Calcium intakes (mean ± SD) were 1182 ± 488 mg/day and 23% of participants consumed <800 mg/day. The mean ± SD serum albumin-adjusted calcium was 2.2 ± 0.1 mmol/L and geometric mean (95% CI) PTH was 9.2 (8.4, 10.2) pg/mL. PTH was inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D (r = −0.311, p < 0.001), but not with calcium intake or serum calcium (r = −0.087 and 0.057, respectively, both p > 0.05). Analysis of variance showed that while serum 25(OH)D (dichotomised at 50 nmol/L) had a significant effect on PTH (p = 0.025), calcium intake (<800, 800–1000, ≥1000 mg/day) had no effect (p = 0.822). There was no 25(OH)D-calcium intake interaction effect on PTH (p = 0.941). In this group of white-skinned women with largely sufficient calcium intakes, serum 25(OH)D was important for maintaining normal PTH concentration.

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Prevalence and aetiologies of anaemia among first trimester pregnant women in Sri Lanka; the need for revisiting the current control strategies

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-04341-z ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gayani Shashikala Amarasinghe ◽

Thilini Chanchala Agampodi ◽

Vasana Mendis ◽

Krishanthi Malawanage ◽

Chamila Kappagoda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Blood Count ◽

First Trimester ◽

Full Blood Count ◽

Red Cell ◽

Middle Income ◽

Anaemia In Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Background The Sustainable development goals, which focus strongly on equity, aim to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. However, a significant cause of intergenerational transfer of malnutrition, anaemia in pregnancy, is still a challenge. It is especially so in the low- and middle-income settings where possible context-specific aetiologies leading to anaemia have been poorly explored. This study explores the prevalence of etiological factors significantly contributing to anaemia in pregnancy in Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income country with a high prevalence of malnutrition albeit robust public health infrastructure. Methods All first-trimester pregnant women registered in the public maternal care programme in the Anuradhapura district from July to September 2019 were invited to participate in Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo). After a full blood count analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, peripheral blood film examination, serum B12 and folate levels were performed in anaemic participants, guided by an algorithm based on the red cell indices in the full blood count. In addition, serum ferritin was tested in a random subsample of 213 participants. Anaemic women in this subsample underwent B12 and folate testing. Results Among 3127 participants, 14.4% (95%CI 13.2–15.7, n = 451) were anaemic. Haemoglobin ranged between 7.4 to 19.6 g/dl. 331(10.6%) had mild anaemia. Haemoglobin ≥13 g/dl was observed in 39(12.7%). Microcytic, normochromic-normocytic, hypochromic-normocytic and macrocytic anaemia was observed in 243(54%), 114(25.3%), 80(17.8%) and two (0.4%) of full blood counts in anaemic women, respectively. Microcytic anaemia with a red cell count ≥5 * 106 /μl demonstrated a 100% positive predictive value for minor haemoglobinopathies. Minor hemoglobinopathies were present in at least 23.3%(n = 105) of anaemic pregnant women. Prevalence of iron deficiency, B12 deficiency and Southeast Asian ovalocytosis among the anaemic was 41.9% (95%CI 26.4–59.2), 23.8% (95%CI 10.6–45.1) and 0.9% (95%CI 0.3–2.3%), respectively. Folate deficiency was not observed. Conclusion Even though iron deficiency remains the primary cause, minor hemoglobinopathies, B 12 deficiency and other aetiologies substantially contribute to anaemia in pregnancy in this study population. Public health interventions, including screening for minor hemoglobinopathies and multiple micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy, should be considered in the national programme for areas where these problems have been identified.

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Cross-sectional study to assess etiology and associated factors for anaemia during first trimester of pregnancy in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka: a protocol

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.28226.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 223

Author(s):

Gayani Amarasinghe ◽

Vasana Mendis ◽

Thilini Agampodi

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Data Collection ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Associated Factors ◽

First Trimester ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Anaemia In Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy, which can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, is a significant global health problem. Despite Sri Lanka’s strong public health system and commitment towards prevention, maternal anaemia remains a major problem in the country. While prevention is focused on iron deficiency, detailed etiological studies on this topic are scarce. Moreover, estimates of socio demographic and economic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy, which can provide important clues for anaemia control, are also lacking. This study aims to evaluate the hemoglobin distribution, spatial distribution, etiology and associated factors for anaemia in pregnant women in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of pregnant women in their first trimester registered for antenatal care from July to September 2019 in the Anuradhapura district. The minimal sample size was calculated to be 1866. Initial data collection has already been carried out in special field clinics for pregnant women between June to October 2019. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, a self-completed dietary questionnaire and an examination checklist were used for data collection. In addition, all participants underwent complete blood count testing. Further investigations are being conducted for predicting the etiology of anaemia based on a developed algorithm (such as high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] and peripheral blood film analysis). Discussion: Being the largest study on anaemia during pregnancy in a single geographical area in Sri Lanka, this study will provide important clues about geographical clustering of anaemia cases with similar etiology, associated factors and etiologies which would help to develop interventions to improve the health of pregnant women in the area. The possibility of selection bias is a potential limitation associated with the study design.

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A three year review of twin deliveries in a specialist hospital in North-Western Nigeria

International Journal of Frontiers in Life Science Research ◽

10.53294/ijflsr.2021.1.1.0034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 034-039

Author(s):

A. Oyaromade ◽

B. A Muhammad ◽

A. Omigbodun

Keyword(s):

Perinatal Mortality ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Secondary Level ◽

University Teaching ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

The Mean ◽

Anaemia In Pregnancy ◽

Level Hospital ◽

North Western ◽

In Pregnancy

Background: Although the frequency of twin pregnancies varies from one ethnic group to another, there has been a general trend toward an increase recently. Maternal and perinatal mortality are higher in twin than singleton pregnancies. Most studies on twinning had been done in university teaching hospitals where conditions are different from what is seen in secondary-care health institutions where this study was done Objectives: To determine the incidence, mode of delivery and maternal and perinatal outcomes of twin deliveries at a secondary-level hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive study of 96 twin deliveries over a three-year period between May 2013 and April 2016 at a secondary-level hospital with access to specialist obstetricians and paediatricians. Result: There were 4,567 deliveries, with 101 twin deliveries, an incidence of 2.2% or 1 in 45 deliveries. The mean maternal age and parity were 26.4 years and 3.2 respectively. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.9 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 2.18kg and 2.01kg for the first and second twins respectively. Male twins constituted 53.2% of twin births. The common presentations of the twins were cephalic–cephalic (64.6%), cephalic–breech (16.7%) and breech–breech (6.3%). Mode of deliveries were vertex vaginal (77.1%) and caesarean (14.6%). Breech presentation of the leading twin was the commonest indication for caesarean section (57.1%). Anaemia in pregnancy (16.7%) was the commonest maternal complication, while prematurity was the leading cause of perinatal mortality. Conclusion: Preterm delivery, malpresentation, operative delivery and maternal anaemia in pregnancy were commonly seen in association with twin pregnancy in this cohort of patients.

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Differences in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among symptomatic versus asymptomatic COVID-19-infected pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-04250-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Durray Shahwar A. Khan ◽

La-Raib Hamid ◽

Anna Ali ◽

Rehana A. Salam ◽

Nadeem Zuberi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Low Birthweight ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Respiratory Disorder ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Background There is dearth of information on COVID-19’s impact on pregnant women. However, literature reported trends of COVID-19 differ, depending on the presence of clinical features upon presentation. Objective This systematic review aimed to assess differences in risk factors, management, complications, and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in symptomatic vs. asymptomatic pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods A search was run on electronic databases to identify studies reporting COVID-19 in pregnancy. Meta-analysis was performed and odds ratios and mean difference with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Review Manager 5.4. Review Prospero registration number CRD42020204662. Results We included ten articles reporting data from 3158 pregnancies; with 1900 symptomatic and 1258 asymptomatic pregnant women. There was no significant difference in the mean age, gestational age, and body mass index between the two groups. The meta-analysis suggested that pregnant women who were obese (OR:1.37;95%CI:1.15 to 1.62), hypertensive (OR:2.07;95%CI:1.38 to 3.10) or had a respiratory disorder (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.25 to 2.16), were more likely to be symptomatic when infected with SARS-CoV-2. Pregnant women with Black (OR:1.48;95%CI:1.19 to 1.85) or Asian (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.23 to 2.18) ethnicity were more likely to be symptomatic while those with White ethnicity (OR:0.63;95%CI:0.52 to 0.76) were more likely to be asymptomatic. Cesarean-section delivery (OR:1.40;95%CI:1.17 to 1.67) was more likely amongst symptomatic pregnant women. The mean birthweight(g) (MD:240.51;95%CI:188.42 to 293.51), was significantly lower, while the odds of low birthweight (OR:1.85;95%CI:1.06 to 3.24) and preterm birth (< 37 weeks) (OR:2.10;95%CI:1.04 to 4.23) was higher amongst symptomatic pregnant women. Symptomatic pregnant women had a greater requirement for maternal ICU admission (OR:13.25;95%CI:5.60 to 31.34) and mechanical ventilation (OR:15.56;95%CI:2.96 to 81.70) while their neonates had a higher likelihood for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission (OR:1.96;95%CI:1.59 to 2.43). The management strategies in the included studies were poorly discussed, hence could not be analyzed. Conclusion The evidence suggests that the presence of risk factors (co-morbidities and ethnicity) increased the likelihood of pregnant women being symptomatic. Higher odds of complications were also observed amongst symptomatic pregnant women. However, more adequately conducted studies with adjusted analysis and parallel comparison groups are required to reach conclusive findings.

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Evaluation of Iron Status, Haemoglobin and Protein Levels of Pregnant Women in Owerri Metropolis

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i27a31491 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 36-43

Author(s):

I. L. Okoroiwu ◽

Jane Ugochi Chinedu-Madu ◽

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu ◽

C. C. N. Vincent ◽

O. M. T. B. Ochiabuto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Serum Iron ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Iron Status ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Group 3 ◽

The Mean ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

The study was done to determine iron status, haemoglobin and protein levels of pregnant women in owerri metropolis. A total of 100 pregnant women were recruited for this study. The mean Hb levels in group 1, group 2, and group 3· were 12.00±1.68g/dl, 10.06±1.J4g/dl and 10.96±1.19g/dl respectively. The mean Serum ferritin level of group 1 was 67.00±88.38ng/ml, group 2, 52.48±52.47ng/ml and group 3, 51.26±48.70ng/ml. The mean Serum iron in group 1, 2 and 3 were 46.72±16.41 g/dl, 79.59±63.24 g/dl and 83.35±53.04 g/dl respectively. In group 1, 2 and 3 the mean results. ( g/dl) of TIBC were 295.58 ± 109.53, 324.06 ± 178.00 and 319.88 ± 92.95 and % T.S (%) were 18.78 ± 11.77,26.59 ± 19.40 and 17.97 ± 10.87 percent respectively. The mean total protein was group 1,6.83±l1.77g/dl, group 2,6.39±0.70g/dl and group 3, 6.39 ±0.98 g/dl while the mean albumin (g/dl) in group 1, 2 and 3 were 4.84±0.47, 4.13±0.28 and 4.14±0.29 respectively. The mean values of globulin (g/dl) were 1.98 ± 0.91, 2.29 ± 0.87 and 1.89 ± 0.90 in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. As gestational age increased; serum ferritin, total protein, and albumin levels decreased while serum" iron and TIBC increased. The differences in the mean results between the groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) while % T.S and globulin levels when compared showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Iron status showed no statistical difference with increasing parity (p>0.05). However, from this study iron deficiency anaemia was most prevalent in second trimester; hence iron status estimation should be an integral part of routine antenatal care test during second trimester of each pregnancy for proper assessment and management of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy.

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CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FETO-MATERNAL OUTCOMES IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH COVID -19 INFECTIONS

10.36106/ijsr/6704051 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 30-32

Author(s):

Gulshan Bano ◽

Anubha Prashad ◽

Rakhee Soni ◽

Mohammed Mishal

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Cesarean Delivery ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Maternal Outcomes ◽

Hypertensive Disorder ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Hypertensive Disorder Of Pregnancy ◽

The Mean ◽

In Pregnancy

Background and objectives:-COVID-19 is ongoing pandemic, caused by novel Corona Virus. There is very scarce information is available about clinical features and feto-maternal outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnancy. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine clinical characteristics and feto-maternal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19. Methods- In this retrospective study, we included all pregnant women admitted with COVID-19 over three months. Clinical features, laboratory ndings and feto-maternal outcomes were assessed.Results:-The mean age of the patients was 24 years. Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy was most common associated co-morbidity. Majority of patients (81%) were asymptomatic. Lymphocytopenia was seen in 58% of the patients and 47% had elevated levels of CRP. All patients who presented in rst trimester had spontaneous abortion. There is relatively higher rate of preterm birth (21%) and cesarean delivery(43%). All the neonates were tested negative for COVID-19. Conclusion;- There is relatively higher rate of cesarean delivery. Overall feto-maternal outcome was good and there was no evidence of vertical transmission.

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Functional Status of Maternal Thyroid Gland in Eclampsia

TAJ Journal of Teachers Association ◽

10.3329/taj.v31i1.41567 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 9-14

Author(s):

M Hafizur Rahman ◽

Mahbub Ara Chowdhury ◽

Shahin Mahmuda

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Normal Pregnancy ◽

Hormonal Changes ◽

Free Triiodothyronine ◽

College Hospital ◽

Medical College ◽

The Mean ◽

Maternal Thyroid ◽

Complicated Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy

Marked changes in maternal thyroid activity occur in pregnancy. During pregnancy bodily hormonal changes and metabolic demands result in complex alteration in the bio-chemical parameters of thyroid activities. Besides these, thyroid enlargement, increased thyroid capability for iodine uptake and increase in basal metabolic rate are evidential though these findings are not usually associated with symptoms of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy. Serum concentration of thyroid hormone thyroxine and triiodothyronine in complicated pregnancy like eclamptic toxemia is another field of controversy. To evaluate the changes in thyroid function in normal pregnancy and eclamptic toxemia, a study was undertaken in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. We collected serum specimens from non pregnant but married women, normal 3rd trimester pregnant women and patients with eclampsia at 3rd trimester of pregnancy and measured serum concentrations of total and free thyroxine (TT4 & FT4) and total and free triiodothyronine (TT3 & FT3 ) by using RIA. Among the study subjects, 10 women were married but non pregnant, 12 women were in their 3rd trimester of normal pregnancy and 32 patients of eclamptic toxemia with 3rd trimester of pregnancy. In normal pregnancy, FT4 and FT3 levels remained normal while TT4 and TT3 levels were elevated. In patients with toxemia of pregnancy, the mean serum TT3 concentration was significantly lower than that of normal pregnancy and the serum FT3 concentrations were below the normal pregnancy range. The mean serum TT4 and FT4 concentrations in patients with eclampsia were however, significantly higher than those in normal pregnant women. TAJ 2018; 31(1): 9-14

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