IODINE SUPPLEMENT FOLLOWING OPERATION OF FUNCTIONAL AUTONOMOUS AND NONAUTONOMOUS GOITER

Autonomous and non-autonomous goitre induced by iodine deficiency were investigated in 295 patients for up to 6 months following selective s urgery with a residual thyroid >10 ml and a postoperative therapy of 2 00, 300, or 400 mu g iodine. As the surgery-induced tissue trauma regr esses in the first 6 months, the synthesis of endogenous thyroid hormo nes in the residual thyroid tissue increases, the TSH increase returns to normal values, and the iodine deficiency is supplemented. Daily ad ministration of 300 mu g iodine results 6 months post-operatively in e uthyroid metabolism in 73 and 74% of patients, respectively; 200 mu g iodine daily was sufficient only in 51 and 58% of patients respectivel y; 400 mu g iodine dialy did not improve results when compared to 300 mu g iodine daily. Patients with hypothyroid function levels on the 5t h or 6th postoperative day required additional L-thyroxine substitutio n. When administered in addition to iodine, L-thyroxine dosages of 0.7 5-1.25 mu g/kg bodyweight were sufficient for euthyroidism whereas 1.8 0-2.00 mu g/kg bodyweight were required with L-thyroxine alone.