Chevy Chase, MD - The Endocrine Society announces the release of new clinical practice guidelines for the management of thyroid problems present during pregnancy and in the postpartum. The guidelines are published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of The Endocrine Society.

Management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy requires special considerations since pregnancy may affect the course of thyroid disorders and, conversely, thyroid diseases may affect the course of pregnancy. Moreover, thyroid disorders may affect both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus.

“In the last 15 years, we have seen a rapid expansion of knowledge regarding thyroid disease and pregnancy,” said Leslie DeGroot, MD, professor of medicine at Brown University and chair of the expert panel that developed the guidelines. “These guidelines take into account the rapidity of advances in this field, and puts forth evidence-based recommendations for optimal detection and management of thyroid disease in the pregnant woman.”

Clinical practice guidelines are critical as proper care requires coordination among several health care professionals, including obstetricians, nurse midwives, family practitioners, endocrinologists, and/or internists.

Issues addressed by the guidelines’ recommendations include:

• Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy: Maternal (and fetal) hypothyroidism needs to be avoided as this disorder can lead to damaged fetal neural development, an increased incidence of miscarriage, and preterm delivery.
• Thyroid Nodules and Cancer: Fine needle aspiration cytology should be performed for dominant thyroid nodules discovered in pregnancy.
• Treatment with Radioactive Iodine: Radioactive iodine (RAI) must be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Furthermore, pregnancy should be avoided six months to one year in women with thyroid cancer who receive therapeutic RAI doses to ensure stability of thyroid function and confirm remission of thyroid cancer.
• Screening for Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy: Universal screening of pregnant women for thyroid disease is not yet supported by adequate studies, but case finding targeted to specific groups of patients who are at increased risk is strongly supported.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and regulates metabolism, the body's ability to break down food and convert it to energy. Thyroid disorders result from too little or too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypothyroidism (too little hormone) include decreased energy, slow heart rate, dry skin, constipation, and feeling cold all the time.

The guidelines were developed by an international task force created under the auspices of The Endocrine Society. Members of the task force included representatives from The Endocrine Society, American Thyroid Association, Association of American Clinical Endocrinologists, European Thyroid Association, and the Latin American Thyroid Society.

The Endocrine Society’s clinical practice guidelines give healthcare professionals the benefit of the most recent advances and new strategies in diagnosing and treating patients. The guidelines are available at http://www.endo-society.org/publications/guidelines/index.cfm for free download and purchase.

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Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.