Thyroid morphometry and intrathyroidal 131-I iodine transit kinetics in Kashmiri population.

Morphometric--kinetic parameters of the thyroid gland in the Kashmiri population, which is geographically, environmentally, socioculturally, anthropologically and ethnically different from that of the main country (Indian republic), have been analysed. Morphometrically, the gland in this population has been found to be significantly larger (p less than 0.001), while kinetically, the A max which is the ordinate-extrapolate of the best-fit RAIU(t) curve, has been found to be significantly lower (p less than 0.01). The majority of other structural and functional parameters were similar to those of the north Indian population.

Aetiological profile of overt hypothyroidism in Indian population.

We analysed the aetiology of hypothyroidism in 144 patients. In these hospital referral data, thyroid surgery and decompensated iodine deficiency were the major known causes of hypothyroidism (19.5% and 15.3% respectively), while in the majority of patients (45.14%) the aetiology was obscure. The idiopathic group had patients who were significantly younger (p less than 0.01), showed a gland size between 2 and 3 SD ranges in significantly higher preponderance (p less than 0.05), and presented with generally higher prevalence rates of signs and symptoms; however, only menstrual disturbances (p less than 0.01), loss/reduced appetite (p less than 0.01) and dry/thickened hair (p less than 0.25) reached statistical significance. Since hypothyroidism has definite and substantial morbidity, these results are of importance to public health and medical personnel for a Bayesian approach to the aetiological diagnosis of hypothyroidism and for ordering specific confirmatory laboratory investigations.