Comparison of universal and targeted screening for thyroid dysfunction in pregnant Egyptian women.

Objective: To compare universal vs targeted screening for thyroid dysfunction and to estimate the prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant Egyptian women.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 168 of pregnant women who attended the outpatient obstetric clinic at Ain Shams University Hospital (Cairo, Egypt) for antenatal care between September 2011 and December 2011 were enrolled. Based on the detailed data collection and results of laboratory testing, they were subdivided into the high- and low-risk group for thyroid disease according to the most recent Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines, as well as into groups by trimester for application of American Thyroid Association guidelines.