The Continuing Saga of Postpartum Thyroiditis

摘要

Postpartumthyroiditis(PPT)ischaracterizedbythede-velopment of postpartum thyroid dysfunction(PPTD), which may occur up to 12 months after delivery.Usually the syndrome presents as transient hyperthyroid-ism (median time of onset, 13 wk) followed by transienthypothyroidism(mediantimeofonset,19wk).Clinically,women are relatively asymptomatic during the hyperthy-roidphase,althoughsomemaynoticepalpitationsrequir-ing treatment with ? -adrenergic blocking agents. In con-trast, patients experience persistent and troublesomesymptoms related to the hypothyroid period, which usu-ally must be treated with levothyroxine, normally for upto1yr(1,2).