URINARY IODINE LEVELS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT GOITER IN THE EASTERN BLACK-SEA PART OF TURKEY

This study is performed to evaluate the urinary iodine levels in pregn ant women. Eighty pregnant women and 20 non-pregnant women were includ ed into the study. In 29 pregnant women with goiter (group IA) and 51 pregnant women without goiter (group IB). Control group was divided in to 2 subgroups: 10 non-pregnant women with goiter (group IIA) and 10 n on-pregnant healthy women (group IIB). As a result, no significant dif ference in urinary iodine levels was found among groups IA, IB, IIA, I IB. The urinary iodine levels in pregnant women (group IB) in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were significantly higher than those of the pregnan t women in 1st trimester (respectively, p < 0.01, p < 0.05). In group IA, there was no significant difference in the urinary iodine levels b etween the trimesters. As a conclusion, although iodine deficiency is the main cause of endemic goiter in the Eastern Black Sea region, ther e was no increase in urinary iodine level in pregnant women with goite r. In addition to iodine, other possible agents for goiter formation i n pregnant women should be investigated. Because urinary iodine levels in all groups were lower than the WHO's optimal level, the mass proph ylaxis by iodine should be performed in pregnant as well as non-pregna nt women.