ESPE Abstracts

Background and Aims: For years Georgia belonged to a iodine deficiency endemic region, though as a result of a long-term actions aimed at improving the iodine status the country today is a non-iodine deficient region. For this reason it was decided to study present iodine status of newborns and their mothers leaving in the capital of Georgia, which is no longer non-iodine region.

Materials and Methods: In total 87 newborns born to euthyroid mothers (TSH – 2.3.±0.7 IU/L) with insufficient (low normal) urine iodine level comprised group (Gr.) 1; 51 newborns born to euthyroid mothers with sufficient urine iodine levels were included into Gr. 2; These investigations were carried out: thyroid ultrasound, blood TSH level, iodine concentration in urine and breast milk in mothers; Besides, In newborns - urine iodine level (with ammonium persulfate method) Iodine concentration in meconium (measured with Scholz kinetic method). Newborn screening for hypothyroidism data was considered (TSH levels were measured on 3-4 post-delivery).

Results: Results achieved show, that in Gr.1 fetal chronic hypoxia is evidently more frequent (18,3 %), than in Gr.2 (3%), (P<0,05),late meconium pass (Gr. 1 -32%, Gr. 2 -1%), TSH (Gr.1 – 4.4±1.4 IU/L; Gr.2 –2.8 ±0.39 IU/L) were statistically higher in Gr.1 newborns, than in Gr.2 ones.

Urine iodine level: Gr. 1 - 9.7 ±0.5 mkg/dl,Gr.2 -11.3 mkg/dl, which was statistically higher in Gr.2 than in Gr.1. Ioduria mediana in Gr. 1 mothers was 13.3±3.1 mkg/dl, while in Gr.2 it was 15,4±1.8 mkg/dl. Iodine concentration in breast milk was statistically lower in Gr.1 (7±0.9 mkg/dl), than in Gr.2 (8,6±0,1 mkg/dl). The results indicate that breast milk iodine mediana is lower, than that in urine.

Iodine concentration is newborns' meconium was statistically lower in Gr.1 babies, that in Gr.2 ones (80±2,3 ng/g vs. 97,5±1,8ng/g), (P<0,05). It was found in those, whose iodine level in meconium and urine was low, relatively high TSH levels were observed.

Conclusion: Meconium iodine level in new directly correlates to breast milk iodine level, and newborns' blood TSH level. Iodine concentration in meconium reflects fetal iodine metabolism integral status.