Maternal Thyroid Deficiency during Pregnancy and Subsequent Neuropsychological Development of the Child

The link between hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy and mental retardation in the offspring has been recognized for nearly 100 years. 1 Iodine deficiency is associated with thyroid deficiency in both mother and fetus, 2 a situation that makes it impossible to determine whether the mental retardation of the fetus is due to maternal hypothyroidism or both maternal and fetal hypothyroidism. In developed countries, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism among women in their childbearing years. Antibodies responsible for compromising maternal thyroid function can cross the placenta and, in some instances, compromise fetal and neonatal thyroid . . .