Low serum triiodothyronine and potassium levels are associated with increased risk of eclampsia among women in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
Loading...
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology
Abstract
There is paucity of data on the relationship between thyroid hormones, potassium and eclampsia. Moderate-to-severe
iodine deficiency that worsens during pregnancy leads to decreased thyroid hormone output and bioavailability to the brain. Apart
from metabolic functions, T3 and T4 are essential fast acting cytosolic and synaptosomal neural transmitters that also regulate neuronal
excitatory-inhibitory mechanisms. T3 also regulates the Na + -K + -ATPase pump that maintains the membrane ionic gradient. Hence altered
serum potassium, thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels could increase the risk of eclamptic seizures. Methods: Forty-five women
with eclampsia, 45 severe preeclampsia and 90 normotensive pregnant controls were enrolled into this study. Levels of thyroid hormones,
thyroglobulin and urine iodine concentration (UIC) were measured and compared between the three groups. Results: Eclamptic
participants had significantly lower median serum potassium (K), triiodothyronine (FT3), urinary iodine concentration (UIC) but higher
serum thyroglobulin (Tg) (K = 3.7 mmol/L; FT3 = 3.8 pmol/L; UIC = 69.5 μg/L; Tg = 39.0 μg/L) than normotensive pregnant controls
(K = 4.3 mmol/L; T3 = 4.7 pmol/L; UIC = 169.5 μg/L; Tg = 19.5 μg/L) and participants with severe preeclampsia (K = 4.2 mmol/L; T3
= 4.4 pmol/L; UIC = 95.7 μg/L; Tg = 22.4 μg/L), p < 0.05. Low UIC, low serum T3 and potassium and elevated Tg were independent
predictors of eclampsia. Conclusions: Women with iodine deficiency in pregnancy may be at increased risk of eclampsia secondary to
the ensuing rapid peripheral turnover of thyroid hormones leading to hypothyroxinaemia and reduced triiodothyronine bioavailability to
the central nervous system that can be exacerbated by hypokalaemia.
Description
Keywords
Low serum triiodothyronine, Low serum potassium, Pregnancy, Eclampsia
Citation
Businge, C. B., & Mbenza, B. L. (2022). Low serum triiodothyronine and potassium levels are associated with increased risk of eclampsia among women in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. http://doi.org/10.31083/j.ceog4902032