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Prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren from Gorgan, Iran, a decade after national iodine supplementation: Association with age, gender, and thyroperoxidase antibodies

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Abstract

Background: One decade after universal salt iodization in Iran, goiter prevalence, urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) values were assessed among schoolchildren in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: From 2003–2004, 500 girls and 900 boys aged 7–11 yr were evaluated for goiter by palpation. UIC was measured in 183 randomly-selected goitrous children. Serum TSH, T4, and TPOAb were measured in 53 goitrous and 30 non-goitrous children with adequate UIC. Results: Goiter was detected in 370 (26.4%) children. Goiter was present in 31 % of girls and 17% of boys age 9 (p<0.012); 37% of girls and 20% of boys age 10 (p<0.003); and 52% of girls and 19% of boys age 11 (p<0.0001). Median (range) UIC for all goitrous children sampled was 190 (20–600) μg/I; 220 (30–590) in boys and 170 (20–600) in girls (p=0.001). Eight point seven percent of goitrous children and 22% of goitrous girls aged 10–11 had UIC<100 μg/I, while 47% of the goitrous children had UIC≥200 μg/ I. TPOAb was present in 52.8% of goitrous children and 10% of non-goitrous children (p=0.0001 ). TPOAb was present in 53.9% of 10–11 and 22.7% of 7–9 yr old goitrous and non-goitrous children (p=0.003) with adequate UIC. Median (range) TSH was 2.9 (0.3–10.9) mIU/I in TPO-positive and 1.8 (0.5–4.1) in TPO-negative children (p=0.001). Conclusions: Gorgan, Iran, is an iodine-sufficient area and almost half of schoolchildren have more than adequate UIC. TPOAb is associated with endemic goiter. Despite sufficient UIC overall, some school-aged girls remain at risk of iodine deficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gorgan Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan

    H. R. Bazrafshan, S. Mohammadian & N. Abdolahi

  2. Endocrine Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A. Ordookhani, F. Farhidmehr, M. Hedayati & F. Azizi

  3. Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    L. E. Braverman & E. N. Pearce MD

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  1. H. R. Bazrafshan
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  2. S. Mohammadian
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  3. A. Ordookhani
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  4. F. Farhidmehr
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  5. M. Hedayati
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  9. E. N. Pearce MD
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Correspondence to E. N. Pearce MD.

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Bazrafshan, H.R., Mohammadian, S., Ordookhani, A. et al. Prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren from Gorgan, Iran, a decade after national iodine supplementation: Association with age, gender, and thyroperoxidase antibodies. J Endocrinol Invest 28, 727–733 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347556

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