Trimester specific reference ranges for serum TSH and Free T4 among United Arab Emirates pregnant women

摘要

BackgroundThe American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommended the establishment of population specific reference ranges for thyroid hormones during pregnancy. Initial studies conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2003 and 2004 on pregnant women published a considerably higher upper limit for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) than that proposed by ATA. The UAE was classified as a country with mild iodine deficiency at the time of this initial study. After the implementation of aggressive strategies to address iodine deficiency over the last decade, the UAE was recently declared as iodine sufficient. The current study re-evaluates the reference intervals for thyroid hormones for pregnant women in the UAE after the declaration of iodine sufficiency status.