FAIRLY ELEVATED INCIDENCE OF GOITER WITH MARGINALLY LOW URINARY IODINE IN ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF TUNISIA

In order to study the etiology of endemic goiter in the north-western part of Tunisia, we examined 93 adolescents of this region. We measure d urinary iodine concentrations, serum total thyroxine, total triiodot hyronine, thyrotropin, thyroglobulin and antithyrogobulin antibody con centrations. The adolescents were questioned about their alimentary ha bits, the origin of their drinking water and the presence of known goi ter(s) in their family. Among these adolescents, 49.5% of them had a g oiter. Urinary iodine concentrations showed mild iodine deficiency. Th e serum determinations gave results within the reference ranges, witho ut any significative differences between adolescents, with or without goiter. We found two risk factors: the age of adolescents, and the pre sence of a known goiter in the family. These results suggest that the actual prevention may not be adequate, or most likely that goitrogenic factors are to be looked for, especially in drinking water, since the majority of these adolescents drink no controlled water.