Infertility Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Infertility, including details on male and female infertility, treatment, causes, pregnancy.

Levothyroxine treatment in thyroid peroxidase antibody-positive women undergoing assisted reproduction technologies: a prospective study.

Negro R, Mangieri T, Coppola L, Presicce G, Casavola EC, Gismondi R, Locorotondo G, Caroli P, Pezzarossa A, Dazzi D, Hassan H

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, Casa di Cura Salus, Brindisi. robnegro@tiscali.it

BACKGROUND: Infertile women positive for thyroid antibodies suffer from a poor pregnancy/delivery outcome, although conflicting data have been published. Our objective was to investigate if levothyroxine (LT4) exerts any effect on pregnancy and/or delivery rates in thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)-positive (+) women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. METHODS: Patients undergoing treatment were screened for TPOAb, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). A total of 72 (15%) out of the 484 euthyroid women selected were TPOAb (+). These 72 patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 36) underwent LT4 treatment, group B (n = 36) placebo. Group C consisted of 412 women (85%) who were TPOAb negative (-). All patients received controlled ovarian stimulation. The endpoints of treatment were pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and delivery rate. RESULTS: No differences in pregnancy rate were observed between the three groups. Miscarriage rate was higher in TPOAb (+) in comparison to TPOAb (-) [relative risk: 2.01 (95% CI = 1.13-3.56), P = 0.028]. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnancy rate is not affected either by presence of TPOAb or treatment with LT4. However, TPOAb (+) women show a poorer delivery rate compared to TPOAb (-). LT4 treatment in TPOAb (+) does not affect the delivery rate.

Published 19 May 2005 in Hum Reprod, 20(6): 1529-33.
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