ENDEMIC GOITER IN BOYER-AHMAD

In order to investigate goiter prevalence in Boyer-Ahmad, an Iranian tribal province, 87 families were randomly selected in Yasuj township and Doruhan county. Clinical examination of the subjects disclosed 95% of females and 87% of males over 6 years of age to be goitrous. Grade 2 goiter had the highest prevalence among females. In males grade 1 b was the most prevalent. Hormonal studies on a subsample did not show major abnormalities but free T 3 index was increased significantly in subjects with grade 3 goiter compared to the goitrous and grade 2 groups (p < 0.01). Mean urinary iodine excretion was33.9 ± 30.1 fLg/gcreatinine in Yasuj and23.95 ± 16.6 1 in Ddruhan, indicating moderate to severe iodine deficiency. This study documents goiter hyperendemicity in a Southern province not previously acknowledged by national or international authorities.