[Euthyroid goiter in puberty--a harmless illness?]

An investigation was carried out in to thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4) and lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride) in 136 adolescents (94 femals, average age 13 years). An iodine deficiency (grade II-II) with respect to the daily urine excretion per 1,73 m2 BSA was found in 75%. With few exceptions the serum levels of TSH and T4 were in the normal range. In 36% of the patients we noticed compensatory elevated T3 levels. Correlations between thyroid hormones TSH, T4, renal iodine excretion and the volume of thyroid glands were not detectable, only T3 showed a dignificant positive correlation to the thyroid gland volume. The average values of lipids in patients were found to be higher than in normals. We consider the changed lipids as a sign of a disturbed efficacy of thyroid hormones. The regional insufficient iodine supply causes goiters and to a high degree the observed hyperchole-sterolemia, too. Our results underline the necessity of a common iodine salt prophylaxis as well as the treatment of "harmless" goiters in puberty.