PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P Allain
AU  - S Berre
AU  - N Krari
AU  - P Lainé-Cessac
AU  - A Le Bouil
AU  - N Barbot
AU  - V Rohmer
AU  - J C Bigorgne
TI  - Use of plasma iodine assay for diagnosing thyroid disorders.
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.46.5.453
DP  - 1993 May 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 453--455
VI  - 46
IP  - 5
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/46/5/453.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/46/5/453.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1993 May 01; 46
AB  - AIMS--To examine the advantage of systematic plasma iodine assays in establishing the thyroid function of patients with thyroid disorders. METHODS--Iodine was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in the plasma of 799 patients consulting for possible thyroid disorders, indicated by FT4 and TSH assays. RESULTS--Plasma iodine was below 40 micrograms/l in 57 (7%) patients, most of whom had hypothyroidism; 40-80 micrograms/l in 439 (55%) patients, most of whom had normal thyroid hormone function; 80-250 micrograms/l in 240 (30%) patients, most of whom had hyperthyroidism; and above 250 micrograms/l in 63 (8%) patients, almost all of whom had iodine overload caused by iodinated drugs, particularly amiodarone, resulting in euthyroidism (24%), hyperthyroidism (36%), and hypothyroidism (16%). Sixty five (7%) had been treated with amiodarone and 27 (3%) with other iodinated drugs. More than 10% of patients with thyroid disorders therefore had an iodine overload. CONCLUSIONS--The determination of total plasma iodine using the simple, accurate ICPMS technique, should be carried out in patients consulting for thyroid disorders, particularly for the detection of an iodine overload.