Increased prevalence of hyperthyroidism as an early and transient side-effect of implementing iodine prophylaxis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of hyperthyroidism just after implementation of iodine prophylaxis among adults from an area with iodine deficiency.


METHODS
A total of 1648 adults (age 16 years and older) were sampled from an area of southern Poland during two nationwide epidemiological surveys. Of these, 1424 adults with negative medical history for thyroid disorders qualified for final analysis. The authors compared thyroid dysfunction in participants prior to (1989-1990) and after implementation of iodine prophylaxis (1997-1999).


METHODS
The southern part of Poland.


RESULTS
We found an increase in the serum concentration of anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies from 4.9% in the years 1989-1990 to 12.1% after introduction of iodised household salt (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of hyperthyroidism (defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone < 0.4 microU ml- 1) significantly increased in the equivalent period from 4.8 to 6.5% (P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that a sudden rise in iodine intake after implementation of iodine prophylaxis among adults from the area with iodine deficiency may lead to an increase in thyroid autoimmunity and prevalence of hyperthyroidism. Those possible early side-effects appear to be only temporary and are acceptable when compared with the evident benefits of adequate iodine intake.
Gołkowski
Filip
F
Department of Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University Faculty of Medicine, Kopernika 17, 31-501 Krakow, Poland. filgol@cm-uj.krakow.pl
Buziak-Bereza
Monika
M
Trofimiuk
Małgorzata
M
Bałdys-Waligórska
Agata
A
Szybiński
Zbigniew
Z
Huszno
Bohdan
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D015995:Prevalence; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; C034024:iodized salt; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine