Abstract
In adults with goiter due to iodine deficiency it has been shown that short term treatment with potassium iodide is able to normalize the abnormal T3/T4 ratio without altering TSH responses to TRH. We have treated 12 children with simple goiter with KI(300μg/day for two weeks). This caused a rise of serum T4 from 6.7 to 8.0 μg/dl(p < 0.1).(Controls (N=26):4.4-12.6μg/dl).Basal TSH values decreased from elevated (versus controls) (2.8μU/ml,p < 0.05) to normal (1.8μU/dl) values. (Controls (N=26):0.49.5). +After TRH the maximal TSH increments (Δ TSH) decre ased from 13.1 μU/ml (p < 0.05) to normal (9.6) (Controls: 4.1-26.9); the integrated TSH secretion after TRH (0-12 min)decreased from 1361 μUx120′/ml (p < 0.05) to 984 (controls (N=26):372-2495). This normalization of TSH secretion as a result of iodide repletion suggests that in children, where goiter still appears to be in a developmental stage sensitive “feed-back” regulation is existing,while in adulthood autoregulative mechanisms may become more important. (+ ranges given).
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Ranke, M., Puttkamer, K. & Bierich, J. Changes of TSH secretion in goitrous children treated with potassium iodide. Pediatr Res 12, 1091 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197811000-00057
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197811000-00057