Thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy

Abstract

Thyrotoxicosis is a disease of unknown etiology with a striking genetic or familial incidence. The condition affects women more often than men and is predominantly a disease of the childbearing era. In spite of this it is rarely found in association with pregnancy. Many clinical features are common to pregnancy and to thyrotoxicosis. These include increased cardiac action, accelerated peripheral circulation, and decreased heat tolerance. The effect thyrotoxicosis has on pregnancy, the changes in thyroid function that occur in normal pregnancy and the effect of pregnancy on thyrotoxicosis are hereby discussed. Furthermore, the treatment of thyrotoxicosis during pregnancy is outlined, consisting mainly with antithyroid drugs or by surgery.