Thyroidal Iodine and Proteins in Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Abstract

The iodine content of thyroid tissue from patients with autoimmune thyroid itis was determined in 10 cases. The concentration was usually below 60 μg/g of tissue wet weight and the total content below 4000 μg. The thyroidal proteins were studied in 8 patients. In four thyroglobulin formed from 25 to 52 per cent of the thyroid proteins. Two patients who had the lowest iodine content were hypothyroid. There is a correlation between the decrease in thyroglobulin, the decrease in iodine content, and the appearance of clinical hypothyroidism.