Thyroid dysfunction in post partum patients was previously attributed to secondary pituitary gland failure and was labeled as Sheehan's Syndrome. However studies over the last decade have radically altered this concept and now primary post partum thyroid failure has been established as a unique identity in itself. Hence we undertook a prospective study in two hundred and eight Indian women from Delhi to determine the frequency of post-partum thyroiditis upto 12 weeks of postpartum. Twenty four (11.5%) of the 208 cases included in our study developed thyroid disease. Eighteen of the patients who developed thyroiditis were found to have high titers of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. Patients were found to have a spectrum of thyroid dysfunction. Transient hypothyroidism developed in 14 patients, 1 patient developed persistent hypothyroidism, 5 had transient thyrotoxcosis and 4 developed euthyroid goiters. Seventeen patients had goiters. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in 15 patients, while 2 had colloid goiter. It is concluded from our study that there is a significant incidence of post partum thyroid disease in the female population representative of Delhi, and most of the patients develop transient thyroid disorder. Thus it is recommended that screening of patients for thyroid disorder during and in the post-partum period in Delhi population is highly recommended keeping in mind the high incidence of post partum thyroid dysfunction found in our study.
