RESUMEN
This study aimed at assessing the thyroid status in Kordofan region [western Sudan] where the prevalence of goitre was not clearly defined. A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted in Elobied regional health laboratory on 150 thyroid patients [136 female, 14 male] referred during the period between May-November 2003, their ages ranged between 6 to 65 years. A matching control group of 50 subjects [39 female, 11 male] without symptoms or signs of thyroid disease, were included for comparison. After clinical evaluation and data collection through a questionnaire, serum concentrations of TSH, total triiodothyronine [TT3], and total thyroxine [TT4] were measured by radioimmunoassay. The frequency of thyroid disorders was higher in females [90.7%] than in males [9.3%], among the age group between 25-34 years. The percentage of patients with euthyroid was significantly higher [62%] compared with 28.3% of hyper and 9.3% of hypothyroidism. 69.3% of the thyroid patients had stage II goitre. TT4, TT3 and TSH showed significant differences [P < 0.001] in hyper and hypothyroidism compared with the euthyroid patients and the control group. Serum TT[4] values correlated negatively with TSH [r = 0.272, P = 0.001], and positively with TT[3] [r = 0.693, P = 0.000]. The prevalence of thyroid diseases was found higher in this area, with strong association with the food intake and genetic background, a problem needing to be considered seriously