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Thyroid Hormone and Immunological Studies in Endemic Goiter^*

Athens University School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital Athens 611, Greece

Address requests for reprints to: D. A. Koutras, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Vass Sofias 80 K. Lourou Street, Athens 611, Greece.

Iodized oil (1 ml im) was given to 58 goitrous patients from a mildly iodine-deficient area in Greece. Goiter size, urinary iodine, and serum T₄) T₃RU, T₃, rT₃, TSH, thyroxine- binding globulin (TBG), and thyroid autoantibodies were measured before and 1, 3, and 6 months after the injection. Goiter size decreased. Serum T< remained relatively constant, but TBG decreased and therefore T₃RU and FTI increased. Serum T₃ and rT₃ initially decreased (P < 0.001) and then increased at the sixth month (P < 0.001), both showing roughly parallel changes. Serum TSH, initially normal (1.42 ± 0.11 (SEM) mU/liter), decreased to 0.65 ± 0.01 and 0.76 ± 0.05 mU/liter at the third and sixth month (difference from baseline P < 0.001). Thyroid autoantibodies, both against thyroglobulin and the microsomal antigen, were undetectable before treatment, but became positive in 42.8% of the patients 3 and 6 months later. Three patients developed transient hyperthyroidism. This occurred 3 or 6 months after treatment, and was associated with high titers of thyroid autoantibodies. These results indicate that: 1) transient hyperthyroidism may occur after the administration of iodized oil, possibly because of thyroid tissue necrosis and leakage of hormones, and 2) serum TBG decreases after iodized oil, a finding not previously reported and one whose cause is not known.

^* Supported by a grant from the Hellenic Department of Social Services.

Received October 21, 1982.

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