| A variable incidence (from 3-17%) has been reported worldwide because of wide variations in the number of women studied, the frequency of thyroid assessment postpartum, diagnostic criteria employed and differences in hormone assay methodology(8-13). However, there is a general concensus that the disease occurs in 5-9% of unselected postpartum women(6,14). Recent studies have emphasised that women with Type 1 diabetes have a threefold incidence of PPT compared to non diabetics(15). In these cases there is a strong association with thyroid antibodies. PPT is also more likely to occur in a women who has had a previous episode (vide infra). |
