Screening for post-partum thyreoiditis during early pregnancy: Is it useful and worthwhile?

This short review summarizes the arguments for and against a screening for post-partum thyroiditis in early pregnancy: Measurement of circulating TPO (thyro-peroxydase) antibodies in early pregnancy seems a valid screening method for detecting persons at risk. TPO positive mothers seem to have, moreover, an increased risk to develop post-partal depression or symptoms of thyroid disease even without alteration of thyroid function. In addition, a higher frequency of miscarriages has been described in such patients. In contrast to these arguments in favour of performing such a screening is the fact that post-partum thyroiditis usually has only mild clinical symptoms and is a self-limiting disease.