Universal screening to detect hypothyroidism in pregnant women
Authors' conclusion
Clinical implementation was feasible, and 0.4% of Danish pregnant women were found to be screen positive, all with detectable thyroid autoantibodies, indicative of autoimmune hypothyroidism.
Study context
- Population
- Danish pregnant women in early pregnancy (median 10th week), serum residues from prenatal screening for chromosomal anomalies, North Denmark Region, 2022–2024; median age 30 years11,841 samples screened
- Participants
- 10,403 women
- Outcome
- Unknown maternal TSH above 6 mIU/L (screen positive), classified as overt/subclinical hypothyroidism by free thyroxine (fT4) below/within the reference interval (10.2-15.2 pmol/L)
- Follow-up
- Early pregnancy (median the 10th week)
Methodological detailslaboratory-guided universal screening, regional (North Denmark Region), Results clinically reported only if maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >6 mIU/L and thyroid disease not known; GP immediately informed for specialist referral and treatment
- Laboratory-guided universal screening
- Regional (North Denmark Region)
- Results clinically reported only if maternal TSH >6 mIU/L and thyroid disease not known; GP immediately informed for specialist referral and treatment
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Unknown maternal TSH above 6 mIU/L (screen positive)
- Screen positive (unknown maternal TSH >6 mIU/L)
- 41 women (0.39%)
- Overt hypothyroidism
- 32
- Subclinical hypothyroidism
- 9
- TSH range among screen positive
- 6.1 to 59.4 mIU/L
- TSH above 10 mIU/L
- 19 women
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Universal screening to detect hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 23 June 2026. doi:10.
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