Abstract

The main cause of endemic goitre is iodine deficiency. The severity of iodine deficiency in any region can be evaluated from goitre prevalance, the iodine excretion in the urine, and the iodine content of drinking water. Thyroid function was evaluated in 41 patients with goitre, and compared with 15 healthy subjects (G0). The relationships between thyroid size, serum and urine iodine levels, and thyroid hormones were investigated. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to WHO’s modified criteria. Serum iodine levels, 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (mg/24h), and iodine/creatinine (mgI/g) ratios of single urine samples correlated inversely with goitre size (Go; 6.37±2.35 mg/dl, G1b; 5.35±1.55 mg/dl, G2; 4.39±1.77 mg/dl, G3; 4.13±1.87 mg/dl, G0; 59.6±18.2 mg/24h, G1b; 48.5±22.7 mg/24h, G2; 30.8±12.3 mg/24h, G3; 39.4±21.4 mg/24h, G0; 83.54±38.6 mg/g, G1b; 60.82±8.91 mg/g, G2; 51.04±15.18 mg/g, G3; 44.82±21.47 mg/g’ p