Disclosed is an assay for fetal thyroid function involving determining the amount of fetal thyroid function indicator that is present in the maternal blood and maternal urine and then comparing the determined value to a known standard for the gestation age of the fetus. It is defined as below one standard deviation of the normal values. Also disclosed is a method of treating a fetus having hypothyroidism involving determining that the fetus is hypothyroid using the assay of the present invention and thereafter, administering supplemental thyroid hormone (T.sub.4, 500 ug/wk) into the amniotic sac. Also disclosed is a method of identifying euthyroid state using the assay of the present invention in hypothyroid fetuses receiving T.sub.4 therapy.
本发明公开了一种胎儿甲状腺功能检测方法,包括测定孕妇血液和尿液中胎儿甲状腺功能指标的含量,然后将测定值与已知胎龄标准进行比较,以确定是否低于正常值的一个标准偏差。此外,本发明还公开了一种治疗甲状腺功能减退的胎儿的方法,包括使用本发明的检测方法确定胎儿是否甲状腺功能减退,然后向羊
水囊内注射补充甲状腺激素(T.sub.4,500 μg/周)。本发明还公开了一种使用本发明的检测方法识别接受T.sub.4治疗的甲状腺功能减退胎儿的正常状态的方法。