Guideline on diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy and postpartum (2nd edition): An essential introduction

Thyroid diseases are common in pregnant women, the standardized managements during pregnancy and postpartum are crucial for the health of mothers, fetuses, as well as offsprings. Based on a large number of recent evidences, Chinese Guideline on the diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy and postpartum (2nd edition)has been updated in view of our understanding of the disease. For example, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) cut-off point, a key indicator for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, is no longer proposed as 2.5 mU/L in early pregnancy; it should be taken into account of the TSH levels and positivity of the thyroid peroxidase antibody when considering levothyroxine treatment in gestational subclinical hypothyroidism; it is emphasized that more attention should be paid to find out the causes of gestational hypothyroxinemia; there are completely novel recommendations for timing and choice of antithyroid drugs in pregnancy; several new recommendations on the management of infertility, assisted reproduction, and pre-pregnancy TSH screening have been added. We hope that the new guideline would hence further guide and standardize the management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy and postpartum, which would be beneficial to the pregnant women and their offsprings. Key words: Pregnancy; Postpartum; Thyroid diseases