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Use of plasma iodine assay for diagnosing thyroid disorders
1Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire, Angers, France.
Insights
Systematic plasma iodine assays are advantageous for diagnosing thyroid disorders. Measuring plasma iodine, especially in patients with suspected thyroid issues, helps detect iodine overload from medications like amiodarone.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Thyroid function is crucial for overall health.
- Accurate diagnosis of thyroid disorders is essential for effective treatment.
- Iodine levels can significantly impact thyroid function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of systematic plasma iodine assays in diagnosing thyroid disorders.
- To determine the prevalence of iodine overload in patients with thyroid conditions.
Main Methods:
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used to measure plasma iodine.
- Plasma iodine levels were analyzed in 799 patients presenting with potential thyroid disorders.
- Thyroid function was assessed using FT4 and TSH assays.
Main Results:
- Plasma iodine levels varied across patient groups, correlating with thyroid status.
- Hypothyroidism was associated with low plasma iodine (<40 µg/l).
- Hyperthyroidism was often linked to elevated plasma iodine (80-250 µg/l).
- Iodine overload (>250 µg/l), frequently due to amiodarone, affected over 10% of patients, leading to various thyroid states.
Conclusions:
- Plasma iodine determination via ICPMS is a simple and accurate method.
- Systematic plasma iodine assays should be implemented for patients with thyroid disorders.
- This method is particularly valuable for identifying iodine overload, often caused by iodinated drugs.
Aims:
To examine the advantage of systematic plasma iodine assays in establishing the thyroid function of patients with thyroid disorders.
Methods:
Iodine was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in the plasma of 799 patients consulting for possible thyroid disorders, indicated by FT4 and TSH assays.
Results:
Plasma iodine was below 40 micrograms/l in 57 (7%) patients, most of whom had hypothyroidism; 40-80 micrograms/l in 439 (55%) patients, most of whom had normal thyroid hormone function; 80-250 micrograms/l in 240 (30%) patients, most of whom had hyperthyroidism; and above 250 micrograms/l in 63 (8%) patients, almost all of whom had iodine overload caused by iodinated drugs, particularly amiodarone, resulting in euthyroidism (24%), hyperthyroidism (36%), and hypothyroidism (16%). Sixty five (7%) had been treated with amiodarone and 27 (3%) with other iodinated drugs. More than 10% of patients with thyroid disorders therefore had an iodine overload.
Conclusions:
The determination of total plasma iodine using the simple, accurate ICPMS technique, should be carried out in patients consulting for thyroid disorders, particularly for the detection of an iodine overload.
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