Hyperthyroidism and Birth Defects: The Roles of Maternal Thyroid Function and Thyroid Autoantibody Positivity
Authors' conclusion
In a large Danish pregnancy cohort, no evidence was found that maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy is associated with a risk of birth defects. A possible link with maternal thyroid stimulating antibodies warrants further investigation.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with no known thyroid disease and their children, Danish National Birth Cohort and North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort; blood samples from early pregnancy (median week 10)
- Participants
- 20,399 pregnant women
- Exposure
- Maternal thyroid function and thyroid autoantibody status vs birth defects
- Birth defectsn = 702
- Outcome
- Association between maternal thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies and birth defects (hospital diagnoses)
Methodological detailstwo cohorts: Danish National Birth Cohort and North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort
- Two cohorts: Danish National Birth Cohort and North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
early pregnancy (median week 10)
Children with birth defects
702
3.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Birth defect prevalence by maternal TPOAb or TgAb status · early pregnancy (median week 10)TPOAb or TgAb positive vs TPOAb or TgAb negative · similar prevalence · North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort | P = 0.6 |
Birth defect prevalence with maternal TRAb or TSI positivity · early pregnancy (median week 10)
- Birth defect prevalence higher when mother positive for TRAb or TSI (P = .003)
- 9.5%
- North Denmark Region Pregnancy Cohort
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Hyperthyroidism and Birth Defects: The Roles of Maternal Thyroid Function and Thyroid Autoantibody Positivity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 4 February 2026. doi:10.
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