Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jul 2022)
The Thyroid Condition and Residual Clinical Signs in 31 Existing Endemic Neurological Cretins After 42 Years of Iodine Supplementation in China
- Jianshuang Li,
- Jianshuang Li,
- Jianshuang Li,
- Jianshuang Li,
- Yanhong He,
- Yanhong He,
- Yanhong He,
- Bingxuan Ren,
- Bingxuan Ren,
- Bingxuan Ren,
- Zhaojun Zhang,
- Zhaojun Zhang,
- Zhaojun Zhang,
- Fangang Meng,
- Fangang Meng,
- Fangang Meng,
- Xiaoye Zhang,
- Xiaoye Zhang,
- Xiaoye Zhang,
- Zheng Zhou,
- Zheng Zhou,
- Zheng Zhou,
- Baoxiang Li,
- Baoxiang Li,
- Baoxiang Li,
- Fan Li,
- Fan Li,
- Fan Li,
- Lixiang Liu,
- Lixiang Liu,
- Lixiang Liu,
- Hongmei Shen,
- Hongmei Shen,
- Hongmei Shen
Affiliations
- Jianshuang Li
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Jianshuang Li
- College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Daqing, China
- Jianshuang Li
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Jianshuang Li
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Yanhong He
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Yanhong He
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Yanhong He
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Bingxuan Ren
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Bingxuan Ren
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Bingxuan Ren
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Zhaojun Zhang
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Zhaojun Zhang
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Zhaojun Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Fangang Meng
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Fangang Meng
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Fangang Meng
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Xiaoye Zhang
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Xiaoye Zhang
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Xiaoye Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Zheng Zhou
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Zheng Zhou
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Zheng Zhou
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Baoxiang Li
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Baoxiang Li
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Baoxiang Li
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Fan Li
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Fan Li
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Fan Li
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Lixiang Liu
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Lixiang Liu
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Lixiang Liu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Hongmei Shen
- Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical University, Harbin City, China
- Hongmei Shen
- National Health Commission and Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Hongmei Shen
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.911487
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13
Abstract
BackgroudEndemic cretinism is the most severe manifestation among the iodine deficiency-related disorders. The clinical status of the cretins may be modified subsequently by the duration and severity of the disease. We aimed to reassess the clinical status and thyroid function of 31 surviving “neurological cretins” after 42 years of iodine supplementation in a historically severely iodine deficiency area of China.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study in design and we investigated all 31 surviving neurological cretins and 85 controls. A detailed neurological examination was conducted on each patients. All the participants were given a questionnaire and underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the thyroid. The serum levels of thyroid hormones, thyroid antibodies, serum iodine concentration (SIC) and urine iodine concentration (UIC) were measured.ResultsThe neurological cretins had shorter stature than that of the control. Neurological damage is still present in patients with cretinism. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid nodule in the cretins was significantly higher (χ2 =4.766, P=0.029 and χ2 =17.077, P<0.0001, respectively) compared with the control. After adjusting for confounding factors, endemic neurocretinism was found to be an independent risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism (OR=4.412; 95% CI: 1.358–14.334; P=0.014) and thyroid nodule (OR=6.433; 95% CI: 2.323–17.816; P<0.0001).ConclusionsIodine supplementation after birth does not reverse the neurological damage that results from maternal/foetal hypothyroidism in utero and is subsequently manifested as neurological cretinism. There is a cross-sectional association between endemic neurocretinism and subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid nodule.
Keywords
- endemic neurological cretin
- iodine-deficient area
- subclinical hypothyroidism
- nodules
- neurological signs
- thyroid function
