Studies on endemic goiter and endemic cretinism in Guizhou: observations on iodine metabolism and pituitary thyroid axis functional status
Zhu, X.Y.; Lu, T.Z.; Shi, Z.F.; Hou, M.T.
Chinese Medical Journal 94(9): 555-566
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0366-6999 PMID: 6793321 Document Number: 176876
Among inhabitants of an untreated endemic goitre region, Heba commune, in southeastern Guizhou province, China, excretion of iodine in urine was less than that of inhabitants of a normal nonendemic region, a rural commune of Guiyang city, and an endemic region, Shilong commune, where the inhabitants were treated with iodized salt. Excretion of I in urine was low, not only among goitre patients and cretins but also among nongoitrous adults and children in Heba commune. The 24-h thyroid 131I uptake was also greater than normal among the goitre patients and cretins and nongoitrous adults and children in Heba commune. The inhabitants had normal serum triiodothyronine values, low serum thyroxine (T4) values and high serum thyrotropin (TSH) values. The relation between low serum T4 and high serum TSH values was observed frequently among the cretins and goitre patients although myxoedema was rare.