title: [Dietary iodine deficiency. Its consequences in the aged].
abstract: Persisting dietary iodine deficiency in the Federal Republic of Germany is reflected in endemic goiter, in particular in the elderly. Among 581 over-60-year-olds, 48.8% revealed enlargement of the thyroid gland on sonography. Thyroid nodules were present in 101 cases, and a cystic lesion in another 43. Goiter is appreciably less responsive to levothyroxine in the elderly than in younger patients. The indication for initiating such medication should therefore be established on an individual basis. A specific problem of iodine deficiency goiter in the elderly is the increasing development with age of autonomously functioning nodules in the thyroid. Iodine contamination can induce thyrotoxicosis, which is often difficult to treat; in the individual case, thyroidectomy must be performed.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Universität Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hintze
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köbberling
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D007455:Iodine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine; D013974:Thyroxine
vernacular_title: Alimentärer Jodmangel. Seine Folgen für Personen im höheren Lebensalter.