title: Iodine prophylaxis in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident in the area of Sejny in north-eastern Poland.
abstract: The aim of our study was the estimation of the effects, possible side-effects and immunological reactions after the mass iodine prophylaxis following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. 1457 subjects, aged 6-55 yrs, filled in our questionnaires and in 1191 of them the titres of antithyroid antibodies (TA) including ATMA--Anti-Human Thyroid Membrane Antibodies and TGAb--Anti-Thyreoglobulin Antibodies were estimated. Our study revealed that the prophylaxis, recommended in Poland only for children and teenagers was widely used (more than 90%) and relatively safe. No serious side effects, especially in pregnant women consuming KI were reported. The frequency and mean titres of TA were similar in adults who took and did not take stable iodine. The incidence of TA could be connected with many different factors including iodine deficiency, endemy of goitre as well as iodine prophylaxis. The reason of this phenomenon may be explained in long-term population studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Medical School, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zarzycki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zonenberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Telejko
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kinalska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007455:Iodine