Patterns of urinary iodine excretion in a newly identified goitrous area of central Sicily

Cetorelli, L.; Galante, A.; Pennetti, V.

A clinical survey relative to goiter prevalence was carried out on 2805 male and female subjects aged 6-15 yr in 5 small towns in the province of Caltanissetta (Sicily, Italy). Clinical examination and urinary I determinations were performed. Goiter was identified and classified according to criteria suggested by WHO. Considering both sexes together, 33.6% of the children presented type 1 goiter, and 4.6% presented type 2. Goiter prevalence in the 5 areas appeared to be related to the difference in the I content of the various drinking waters. Urinary I excretion patterns, expressed as I/C [I/creatinine] ratio and derived from determinations performed on 924 of the subjects, are reported. The school population as a whole, in these endemic goitrous areas, presented I/C values significantly different between goiter subjects and non-goiter subjects.