Evaluation of Thyroid Hormones and Goitre in a Rural Community in a Region of Anatolia

Authors: METİN KILINÇ, GÜNEŞ T. YÜREGİR, FİKRET EZBERCİ, HASAN EKERBİÇER, MEHMET AKİF BÜYÜKBEŞE

Abstract: This study was conducted in an endemic goitre area to determine thyroid profiles TSH, freeT4 (fT4), T4, fT3 and T3, as well as the degree of the severity of hypothyroidism and the prevalence of the disease. Tonbak is a small village in Kahramanmaraş. The iodine content of the water is < 1 mg/L. A randomly selected group of 121 subjects aged 16-55 were included in the study. The percentage of goitre was 71.1% upon physical examination. Subjects with primary hypothyroidism were 16.5%. Mean scores of fT4 were 8.9±2.6 pmol/l (range: 2.7-12.9) and mean scores of TSH were 18.1±26.1 mU/ml (range: 4.33-100<). Subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism were 7.5%, having mean scores of fT4 16.5±3.2 pmol/l, (13.3-23.3) and TSH of 6.2±1.7 mIU/ml (4.6-9.4). Cases having low fT4 with normal TSH were 38%. These cases should be further investigated and followed up. In conclusion, the measurement of TSH and fT4 is sufficient in thyroid hormone screening for endemic goitre areas. Just a simple iodine prophylaxis would be more cost effective than having mentally retarded individuals or providing for the treatment of advanced hypothyroid cases. In addition, attention should be paid to regions where the mineral Baryte is found leading to the disease of goitre.

Keywords: Goitre, TSH, fT4, Iodine deficiency, Kahramanmaraş (Turkey)

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