Thyroxine in human amniotic fluid

Joseph Sack, Delbert A. Fisher*, Calvin J. Hobel, Robert Lam

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Total and free T3 and T4 concentrations were measured in human amniotic fluid and in fetal and maternal blood. Before 20 weeks, the mean AF-T4 level was 0.24 μg/dl; there is a progressive increase in concentration with gestational age. At term, the mean AF total T4 level was much less (0.64 μg/ dl) than in fetal or maternal serum (9.3 and 11.3 μg/dl, respectively). Most of the T4 (99.4%) in AF is protein bound, presumably to TBG as in serum, but the mean FT4 concentration in AF at term (4.13 ng/dl) was significantly greater than the levels in fetal or maternal serum (2.67 or 2.56 ng/dl, respectively). The mean TBG level in AF at term was 0.26 mg/dl. T3 was not measurable in AF (<15 ng/dl). There were no significant correlations between the total or free T4 concentrations in maternal or fetal sera and in amniotic fluid. Thus AF thyroid hormone concentrations in the euthyroid fetus do not reliably reflect fetal serum T4 or T3 concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)364-368
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume87
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1975
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Division of Endoerinology
Harbor General Hospital
National Institute
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
U.S. Public Health ServiceHD-O4270

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