Thyroid gland cretinism

A deficiency of iodine results iu insufficient synthesis of thyroxine and a low plasma level, so that secretion of TSH is increased in an attempt to stimulate synthesis but this results in enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre). Iodine deficiency in pregnancy impairs brain development in the foetus, causing mental retardation (known as cretinism). Indeed iodine deficiency is one of the major public health issues worldwide an estimated 200 million people are affected. 

In areas where there is also low iodine in the diet a further complication may arise. The thiocyanate that is formed from the cyanide inhibits the uptake of iodine into the thyroid gland. Iodine is used to make hormones that regulate the metabolism of the body, and its deficiency leads to goitre (enlarged thyroid) and cretinism (mental retardation) in the offspring of women with the disorder. 

Thyroxine. The thyroid gland of the neck secretes a hormone whose primary function seems to lie in a regulation of the body s energy metabolism. Those whose thyroid gland is deficient suffer from hypothyroidism. They are slow, soporific, and apparently lazy they put on weight but never seem to have the energy to act. If the disease occurs in early childhood, the infant becomes a cretin ... 

Thyroid Hypofunction Hypothyroidism is the most common disorder of thyroid function. It can be divided into patients who have a failure of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormone (primary hypothyroidism) and patients in which pituitary or hypothalamic disease is associated with impaired TSH stimulation (central or secondary hypothyroidism). Worldwide, primary hypothyroidism is caused most often by iodine deficiency. In areas where iodine is sufficient, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto s thyroiditis) accounts for most cases. Other causes include postpartum thyroiditis, surgical removal, or radioactive iodine ablation of the gland. Hypothyroidism present at birth (cretinism) is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation in the world. 

CHRONIC HEALTH RISKS headaches numbness weakness dizziness tremors loss of appetite effects on central nervous system deafness loss of muscle coordination loss of visual acuity respiratory effects cardiovascular effects cretinism enlarged thyroid gland congenital hypothyroidism in newborns malformation in fetus low fetal body weights in animals. 

The method of detecting iodine supply levels and the evaluation of the effect of the lack or oversupply (Boyages, 1993) of iodine on the condition of the thyroid gland (its size, function and the impact on the autoimmunity process) and the resulting evaluation of the overall condition of health of an entire population (from the occurrence of endemic cretinism due to significant lack of iodine to mild occurrence of brain dysfunction due to lack of iodine during intrauterine development) problems in the development of the somatic. 

Ramirez, L, Fierro-Benitez, R. and Estrella, E. (1972). In (eds J.B. Stanbury and R.L. Kroc), Human Development and the Thyroid Gland Relation to Endemic Cretinism. Plenum Press, NewYork, NY, p. 223. 

Chronic oral exposure of humans who use cassava roots as the main source of their diets has also been associated with thyroid effects. Ingestion of cassava, in combination with iodine deficiency, has been associated with a high incidence of goiter and cretinism in Zaire (USEPA 1985). Thyroid effects are generally attributed to thiocyanate, a metabolite that markedly inhibits the accumulation of iodine by the thyroid gland, thus decreasing the ability of the gland to maintain a concentration of iodine above that of the blood (ATSDR 1995). 

J.B.Stanbury, Cretinism and fetal-maternal relationship, "Human development and the thyroid gland. Relation to endemic cretinism",... 

In Human development and the thyroid gland relation to endemic cretinism. Stanbury JB and Kroc RL (eds). New York, Plenum Press, 1972, pp 325-333. 

In order to evaluate the influence of prenatal iodine deficiency on the thyroid gland and brain in man, we studied therapeutically aborted fetuses collected from a severely iodine deficient endemic goiter and cretinism area before and after 5 year iodized salt utilization. Fetuses from a non-endemic area served as the normal controls . ... 

AO. R. Fierro-Benitez, I. Ramirez, and J. Suarez, Effect of iodine correction early in fetal life on intelligence quotient. A preliminary report, in "Human development and the thyroid gland. Relation to endemic cretinism", J.B. Stanbury, and R.L. Kroc, eds.. Plenum Press, New York, 239 (1972). 

Hypothyroidism occurs in children (cretinism) and in adults (myxedema see Fig. 8-10). Myxedema may be primary and result from direct injury to the thyroid gland, or be secondary and due to interference with thyrotropin secretion. In contrast to primary myxedema, which is resistant to TSH injection, secondary myxedema can be corrected by thyrotropin administration. 

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE THYROID GLAND Relation to Endemic Cretinism Edited by J. B. Stanbury and R. L. Kroc 1972... 

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