[Changes in the thyroid status of school children in relation to improved dietary iodine intake]

Five years after the introduction of the iodine prophylaxis examinations on the reaction of the thyroidal state were carried out in 150 children, 9 to 15 years of age in a district of the Erzgebirge in the south of the GDR. The results of the T3-, T4- and TSH-concentrations within the serum demonstrated in all the children an euthyroid metabolic condition. The medium renal iodine elimination of 37.3 +/- 4.7 micrograms iodine/g creatinine still resulted in an ionic deficiency of 2nd degree. The thyroid volumes too measured by sonography and the thyroid masses figured out were significantly more voluminous than those of children of the same age in countries with a sufficient iodine supply since years. The incidence rate of struma in 13-15-year-old children amounted to 21 per cent. The systematic accomplishment of interdisciplinary iodine prophylactic measures will further on be essential during the next years in the GDR.