ENDEMIC GOITER AND THYROID-FUNCTION IN CENTRAL-SOUTHERN SARDINIA - REPORT ON AN EXTENSIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY

Although the existence of endemic goiter and cretinism in Sardinia is known since to ancient time, scanty information collected according to WHO criteria is available. In the present paper the results of an ext ensive epidemiological survey carried out in juvenile population livin g in some rural and/or hilly villages in the provinces of Nuoro and Or istano in Central-Southern Sardinia and in urban area of Cagliari, are reported. In the majority of the villages the mean urinary iodine exc retion was lower than 60 mu g/L; the goiter prevalence ranged between 39% and 61% in the district of Nuoro and between 21% and 56% in the di strict of Oristano. In the control area the urinary iodine excretion w as 105 mu g/L with a goiter prevalence of 12%. Goiter prevalence was n ot always inversely related to urinary iodine excretion. No relevant t hyroid function alterations were found. In conclusion: 1) in extraurba n areas of Central-Southern Sardinia mild to moderate iodine deficienc y and endemic goiter are still a widespread problems; 2) also in urban area endemic goiter prevalence is still higher than 10%; 3) extempora ry urinary samples are inadequate for assessing the severity of goiter endemia in mild to moderate iodine deficiency; 4) in mildly affected districts palpation is inaccurate for assessing the prevalence of goit er; 5) no relevant alterations of thyroid function were documented in juvenile population.