Thyroid autoimmunity is associated with higher urinary iodine concentrations in an iodine-deficient area of Northwestern Greece.

Northwestern Greece was identified in the 1960s for its high prevalence of endemic goiter and iodine deficiency. Although iodized salt has been commercially available since then, a recent epidemiological survey of 3916 schoolchildren found that low-grade goiter is still prevalent in endemic proportions (21%). The aim of this study was to further assess the cause of goiter and the severity of iodine deficiency in children from this endemic area of Greece.