Maternal Thyroid Autoimmunity During Pregnancy and the Risk of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems in Children: The Generation R Study

Akhgar Ghassabian, JJ Bongers-Schokking, Yolanda Rijke, N van Mil, Vincent Jaddoe, Sabine Schrama, H (Herbert) Hooijkaas, Bert Hofman, GC Roman, Theo Visser, Frank Verhulst, Henning Tiemeier, Willy Visser

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Abstract

Background: Maternal thyroid status and autoimmunity during pregnancy have been associated with impaired development of the offspring in animal and human studies. Our objective was to examine whether elevated titers of maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) in early pregnancy increased the risk of cognitive impairment and problem behavior in preschool children. Second, we aimed at exploring to what extent any effect on child behavior was mediated by maternal thyroid parameters during pregnancy. Methods: In the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort of 3139 children and their mothers, we measured maternal thyroid parameters (thyrotropin [TSH], free Thyroxine, and TPOAbs) at 13.5 +/- 1.8 weeks of gestation. Children's verbal and nonverbal cognitive functioning was measured at 2.5 years using the Language Development Survey and the Parent Report of Children Abilities. At 3 years, children's behavior was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: Elevated titers of TPOAbs during pregnancy did not predict the verbal and nonverbal cognitive functioning of the children. However, elevated titers of TPOAbs in mothers were associated with externalizing problems in children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-2.29, p = 0.004). In particular, children of TPOAb-positive mothers were at a higher risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.15-2.72, p = 0.01). To explore whether the effect Conclusions: Our findings imply that the elevated titers of TPOAbs during pregnancy impact children's risk of problem behavior, in particular, attention deficit/hyperactivity. The observed effect is only partially explained by maternal TSH levels. These findings may point to a specific mechanism of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in children. Nevertheless, we can only speculate about public health implication of the study, as there is no specific treatment for TPOAb-positive pregnant wo
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)178-186
Number of pages9
JournalThyroid
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Research programs

  • EMC MGC-02-52-01-A
  • EMC MM-01-25-01
  • EMC MM-01-39-03
  • EMC MM-01-54-01
  • EMC MM-04-54-08-A
  • EMC NIHES-01-64-01
  • EMC NIHES-01-64-02
  • EMC NIHES-04-55-01

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