Thyroid Function in a Goitrous Endemic: II. Nonhormonal Iodine Escape from the Goitrous Gland

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Abstract
A comparative kinetic study of the metabolism of inorganic and organic iodine has been carried out by means of radioiodine in 9 goitrous patients of the Uele endemic area in Central Africa. The results of this study were not found in keeping with the classic dynamic model deduced from the assumption that the thyroid gland only releases hormonal iodine. Indeed, at a time when the interference of the administered 131 could be avoided: 1. In most patients the specific activity of iodide in urines was found higher than the specific activity of the plasma PBI. 2. The amounts of endogenous iodide131 appearing in the extrathyroidal space were about 6 times higher than the estimated amounts of organic I131 broken down during the same time. 3. The amounts of I127 and I131 taken up by the glands were 3 times higher than those released as hormonal iodine. To account for these observations, an escape of nonhormonal iodine from the goitrous gland has to be postulated.