Resumen

FERNANDEZ-OLAECHEA, María Dolores; RODRIGUEZ-AGUILAR, Sarita; ALFARO-CASTRO, Thelma  y  ASCENSIO-RIVERA, Melany. Bocio en la provincia de Cartago. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2001, vol.43, n.1, pp.27-31. ISSN 0001-6002.

Justification and Objectives: In Costa Rica the iodination of salt, established in 1972, reduced the incidence of endemic goitre. Nonetheless goiter notifications were increased during the last years. The purpose of this study is to determine the causes of the high incidence of goiter in Cartago. Cartago is one of the provinces most affected reporting 300 new cases per year. The cases of goiter reported during 1996 were evaluated. Methods: The history of thyroid disease and the clinical characteristics of goiters were analysed. Serum levels of thyroidstimulation hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies were measured. Also, iodine concentration in urine and the iodination of the salt sample that the patients consumed were determined. Results: 96% of the goiters were from lo young housewifes. Most of the goiters (70%) were small with diffuse growth. Nearly a fourth (24,5%) of the patients with goiter had hypothyroidism. Low levels of iodine in urine were found in 29% of the cases, 90% of salt samples were weil iodized but we detected substitution of iodinated salt with condiments make with non-iodinated salt.

Palabras clave : Bocio endémico; hipotiroidismo; yoduria; yodación de sal.