Postpartum Hyperthyroidism	

Postpartum hyperthyroidism is usually due to postpartum thyroiditis, which affects some five per cent of all women during the year after pregnancy, particularly those with high titres of TPO antibodies. Postpartum thyroiditis is typically biphasic (Fig. 17.59) with an initial hyperthyroid state that occurs approximately three months after delivery. This is usually brief, biochemical and asymptomatic, and is followed by a hypothyroid phase four to five months postpartum, which may be symptomatic and is sometimes permanent. The differential diagnosis of postpartum hyperthyroidism is shown in Fig. 17.60.