title: Prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren from Gorgan, Iran, a decade after national iodine supplementation: association with age, gender, and thyroperoxidase antibodies.
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) microg/l; 220 (30590) 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 microg/l, while 47% of the goitrous children had UIC> or =200 microg/ l. 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) mlU/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.
authors.affiliation: Gorgan Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bazrafshan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ordookhani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farhidmehr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedayati
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdolahi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Braverman
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D007455:Iodine; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D013974:Thyroxine