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Wigh IMN, Andersen L, Lundgaard MH, Torp NMU, Karmisholt J, Andersen S, Andersen SL. Agreement between routinely used immunoassays for thyroid function testing in non-pregnant and pregnant adults. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2024. [PMID: 38630936 DOI: 10.1111/cen.15062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Thyroid function tests are common biochemical analyses, and agreement between the routinely used immunoassays is important for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Efforts are continuously made to align the biochemical assays, and we aimed to evaluate the agreement between immunoassays used in a clinical laboratory setting among non-pregnant and pregnant adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Serum samples were obtained from 192 blood donors (non-pregnant adults) and from 86 pregnant women in the North Denmark Region with no known thyroid disease. MEASUREMENTS Each sample was used for measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with the routinely used automatic immunoassays in the regional Departments of Clinical Biochemistry (Alinity, Abbott Laboratories, Cobas, Roche Diagnostics, and Atellica, Siemens Healthineers) and reported as the median with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS In nonpregnant adults, the level of TSH was higher with Cobas and Atellica than with Alinity as reflected by median (Alinity: 1.39 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.30-1.51 mIU/L); Cobas: 1.57 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.48-1.75 mIU/L); Atellica: 1.74 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.61-1.83 mIU/L)). Similarly, a trend was seen towards higher median TSH with Cobas than with Alinity among pregnant women (Alinity: 1.90 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.37-2.82 mIU/L); Cobas: 2.33 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.69-3.62 mIU/L)). CONCLUSION Results of thyroid function tests obtained with different immunoassays were not interchangeable when evaluated among pregnant and non-pregnant adults. The distinct differences are relevant for clinical decision making and emphasize the necessity of clinical laboratory information when different assays are used for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with thyroid disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Marie Nørum Wigh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lærke Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Maja Hjelm Lundgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Nanna Maria Uldall Torp
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jesper Karmisholt
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stig Andersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Geriatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Husted L, Rødgaard-Hansen S, Lundgaard MH, Uldall Torp NM, Andersen SL. Biochemical markers of renal function and maternal hypothyroidism in early pregnancy. Eur Thyroid J 2023; 12:e230157. [PMID: 38029281 PMCID: PMC10762587 DOI: 10.1530/etj-23-0157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The physiological adaptations during a normal pregnancy affect renal and thyroid function and levels of associated biochemical markers. An association between cystatin C (CysC), creatinine, and thyroid function has been considered in nonpregnant individuals but not in pregnant women specifically. Methods Cohort study within the North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort (2011-2015) with assessment of thyroid function and autoantibodies (ADVIA Centaur XPT, Siemens Healthineers) in serum residues from the early pregnancy. Consecutive samples (n = 1112) were selected for measurement of CysC and creatinine (Atellica CH 930, Siemens Healthineers), and results were linked to information in Danish nationwide registers for (i) establishment of pregnancy-specific reference intervals for CysC and creatinine and (ii) evaluation of the prevalence of maternal hypothyroidism in early pregnancy according to levels of CysC and creatinine. Results The established reference intervals (2.5-97.5 percentiles) differed by week of pregnancy (week 4-8, 9-11, 12-15) and were CysC: 0.58-0.92 mg/L; 0.54-0.91 mg/L; 0.52-0.86 mg/L; creatinine: 46.9-73.0 µmol/L; 42.0-68.4 µmol/L; 38.8-66.4 µmol/L. The prevalence of maternal autoimmune hypothyroidism in early pregnancy differed by the level of CysC and creatinine (<25th percentile; 25th-75th percentile; >75th percentile) and was for CysC 1.7%, 3.8%, 7.4% and for creatinine 2.5%, 4.1%, 7.1%. Conclusions Reference intervals for CysC and creatinine were dynamic in early pregnancy and decreased with increasing gestational age. Furthermore, higher levels of CysC and creatinine associated with a higher prevalence of maternal autoimmune hypothyroidism. Results encourage considerations on the underlying mechanisms for the association between markers of renal and thyroid function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Husted
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Viborg Regional Hospital, Viborg, Denmark
| | | | - Maja Hjelm Lundgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Nanna Maria Uldall Torp
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Hatting LC, Kristensen MØ, Lundgaard MH, Sørensen A, Andersen SL. Screening for thyroid disease in pregnancy: a study of Danish clinical practice. Thyroid Res 2023; 16:9. [PMID: 37004092 PMCID: PMC10063953 DOI: 10.1186/s13044-023-00151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid disease in pregnant women is a matter of clinical awareness, and current clinical guidelines recommend a risk-based screening strategy. This study aimed to evaluate current clinical practice regarding screening for thyroid disease in pregnancy in Denmark. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed in the North Denmark Region with consecutive inclusion of 150 pregnant women from Aalborg University Hospital each year in 2020 and 2021. Medical records were reviewed according to the recommended risk-based screening criteria for thyroid disease in pregnancy. Any measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was assessed 3 months prior to and in pregnancy. RESULTS Altogether 292 pregnant women who received no current treatment for thyroid disease were included. A total of 81 (27.7%) had a measurement of TSH before or during the pregnancy, and 30 women (10.3%) in the early pregnancy specifically. One or more of the screening criteria for thyroid disease recommended in the Danish clinical practice guideline were fulfilled in 37 of the 81 women (45.7%) with thyroid function tested and among 41 of the 211 (19.4%) women who did not have thyroid function tested before or during pregnancy. CONCLUSION In a Danish regional investigation, 1 in 4 women had their thyroid function tested in relation to a pregnancy. However, recommended risk-based screening criteria for thyroid disease in pregnancy were heterogeneously distributed. Results encourage considerations on the current practice for the screening of thyroid function in Danish pregnant women and inform the general debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Cleman Hatting
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Maja Hjelm Lundgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anne Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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Andersen SL, Bruun NH, Christensen PA, Lykkeboe S, Handberg A, Hansen AB, Lundgaard MH, Knøsgaard L, Uldall Torp NM, Carlé A, Karmisholt J, Bülow Pedersen I, Vestergaard P, Andersen S. Cut-offs for thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in early pregnancy. Eur Thyroid J 2022; 11:e220142. [PMID: 36169923 PMCID: PMC9641784 DOI: 10.1530/etj-22-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Thyroid disease in women of reproductive age is mainly of autoimmune origin, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) as well as thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab) are key markers. Adding to this, much focus in pregnancy is on euthyroid women who are thyroid antibody positive. Evidence to substantiate the cut-offs for the definition of thyroid autoantibody positivity in early pregnant women is warranted. Methods Stored serum samples from 14,030 Danish pregnant women were used for the measurement of TPO-Ab, Tg-Ab, TSH, and free thyroxine (ADVIA Centaur XPT, Siemens Healthineers). Among all women, a reference cohort of 10,905 individuals was identified for the establishment of antibody cut-offs. Percentile cut-offs for TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab were determined using regression on order statistics (the reference cohort). The established cut-offs were then applied (the full cohort), and frequencies of early pregnancy as well as later diagnosis of hypothyroidism were evaluated. Results The highest established cut-offs (95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles) were 59, 68, and 81 U/mL for TPO-Ab and 33, 41, and 52 U/mL for Tg-Ab. When the cut-offs were applied in the full cohort, 11.0, 10.2, and 9.7% were TPO-Ab positive, whereas 13.3, 12.3, and 11.2% were Tg-Ab positive. Antibody-positive women (TPO-Ab and/or Tg-Ab) had higher median TSH and were more likely to have hypothyroidism in early pregnancy and to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism during follow-up. Conclusions This large study established and evaluated pregnancy-specific cut-offs for TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab. The findings are important regarding the classification of exposure in pregnancy and assessment of thyroid autoimmunity per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Niels Henrik Bruun
- Unit of Clinical Biostatistics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Peter Astrup Christensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Simon Lykkeboe
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Aase Handberg
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Annebirthe Bo Hansen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Maja Hjelm Lundgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Louise Knøsgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Nanna Maria Uldall Torp
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Allan Carlé
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jesper Karmisholt
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Inge Bülow Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Peter Vestergaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center North Jutland, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stig Andersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Geriatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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Hjelm Lundgaard M, Carlé A, Birgitte Christiansen U, Sørensen A, Risom Kristensen S, Andersen SL. Prolonged APTT and autoimmune overt hypothyroidism identified postpartum: a case report. Eur Thyroid J 2022; 11:e220109. [PMID: 35900856 PMCID: PMC9346323 DOI: 10.1530/etj-22-0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Thyroid disorders have been linked to abnormalities in the coagulation system, and a hypocoagulant state has been proposed in hypothyroidism. The assessment of thyroid function is, however, not routinely recommended as part of the assessment for coagulation disorders. CASE PRESENTATION We present a 32-year-old woman who had no history of thyroid disease and who recently gave birth preterm because of severe preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Due to severe placental dysfunction, she underwent a routine biochemical assessment of the coagulation system 6 months postpartum, and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (43 s) was identified along with a low level of coagulation factor VIII (0.44 IU/mL), and a low level of von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen (0.35 IU/mL), vWF activity (0.38 IU/mL) as well as reduced generation of thrombin. The assessment of thyroid function in the patient identified autoimmune, overt hypothyroidism with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration of 139 mIU/L, low levels of the peripheral thyroid hormones (total thyroxine: 43 nmol/L, total triiodothyronine: 0.9 nmol/L), and high levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (296 U/mL) as well as thyroglobulin antibodies (927 U/mL). CONCLUSION In this case, prolonged APTT provided a diagnostic clue for the assessment of thyroid function in a young woman with a recent history of severe placental dysfunction. The identification of autoimmune, overt hypothyroidism emphasizes that measurement of TSH may be of clinical importance in cases of unexplained prolonged APTT or other biochemical signs of abnormalities in the coagulation system. ESTABLISHED FACTS Hypothyroidism has been associated with alterations of the coagulation system suggesting a hypocoagulant state. At present, measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone is not routinely recommended as part of the assessment for coagulation disorders. NOVEL INSIGHTS In this case, biochemical assessment of the coagulation system was routinely performed following a pregnancy complicated by severe placental dysfunction. Overt hypothyroidism of autoimmune origin was identified secondary to prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) postpartum along with low levels of coagulation factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and thrombin generation. Measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone may be considered in cases of unexplained prolonged APTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Hjelm Lundgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Allan Carlé
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Anne Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Søren Risom Kristensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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