Summary:
Thyroid hormones are essential both for the physiological course of pregnancy and for the optimal
differentiation of the embryonic tissues and foetal brain development. Overt and subclinical
hypothyroidism constitutes a frequent cause of infertility, it carries along an increased risk of
spontaneous abortion and premature birth, and it may lead to an impaired foetal brain development
resulting in a worse psychoneurological outcome in the progeny. The repeatedly documented high
prevalence of thyroid diseases in pregnancy warrants a realization of systematic screening for thyroid
dysfunction during early stage of pregnancy or better before conception whenever possible. The Czech
Endocrine Society attempts to implement such a systematic screening in the Czech Republic, although
the particular aspects of the screening are still discussed.
Key words:
pregnancy, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroid dysfunction, antibodies to thyroid
peroxidase.
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