Urinary iodine and other iodine deficiency indicators in a sample of school-age children in Egypt

Sufficient data relating urinary iodine excretion in children to other iodine deficiency indicators are lacking in Egypt. We assayed urinary iodine concentration and serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], thyroglobulin, free triiodothyronine [T3] and free tetraiodothyronine in 99 school-aged Egyptian children. Goitre was found in 25 children. Median urinary iodine concentration was 70 micro g/L. We found mild iodine deficiency [50-99 micro g/L] in 60.6% of the children and moderate to severe deficiency [< 50 micro g/L] in 31.3%.The latter showed a high frequency of goitre and elevated mean serum free T3, TSH and thyroglobulin levels. Individual urinary iodine excretion rates vary, therefore these other indicators could help in screening for iodine deficiency at an individual level, especially in moderate to severe deficiency

Prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in the United Arab Emirates measured by raised TSH levels

The United Arab Emirates National Screening Programme for Congenital Hypothyroidism was established in January 1998. The programme measures neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels of blood samples collected on filter paper on day 5 by heel prick. The prevalence of raised TSH levels [> 5 microU/mL whole blood] during 1998 and 1999 was used to evaluate the degree of iodine-deficiency disorders [IDD] in the population in different regions. The ratio of TSH profile in the present study and goitre rate in schools in a 1994 study were discrepant, although there was good correlation between the ratio of TSH profile and urinary iodine. The prevalence of raised TSH levels was < 3% in the Emirates overall, which is normal, and IDD varied from mild to normal problems in different regions