[Autoimmune processes in the pathogenesis of juvenile thyroid enlargement]

The frequency of juvenile thyroid enlargement in Moscow adolescents over the last 25 yrs increased twice, among them in girls three times. During examination of 66 adolescents with juvenile thyroid enlargement without clinical signs of disorder of its function autoimmune processes in the thyroid were revealed in 62%, autoimmune thyroiditis in 15%. Pathogenetic interrelationship between a rise of the frequency of juvenile thyroid enlargement and a rise of autoimmune processes in the thyroid in Moscow adolescents has been assumed. Dispensarization of children with juvenile thyroid enlargement threatening the development of autoimmune thyroiditis was found necessary.