Iodine deficiency influences thyroid autoimmunity in old age--a comparative population-based study.

Objective: To assess thyroid autoimmunity among elderly people living in an area with low iodine intake compared to the sustained recommended iodine intake from a natural source, and to estimate the importance of migration.

Design And Setting: Iodine content of drinking water is highly different in the Danish towns Randers and Skagen. We collected blood and spot urine samples from 430 long-term Randers and Skagen dwellers aged 75-80 years, who filled in a questionnaire.

More hypothyroidism and less hyperthyroidism with sufficient iodine nutrition compared to mild iodine deficiency--a comparative population-based study of older people.

Objective: To assess the occurrence of thyroid disorders and autoimmunity in a geriatric population with long-standing recommended iodine intake of natural origin compared to mild iodine deficiency.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional, comparative, population-based study in two areas with different iodine intakes due to different tap water iodine contents.

Participants: Residents of Randers (n=212) or Skagen (n=218), Denmark, aged 75-80 years.

Naturally occurring iodine in humic substances in drinking water in Denmark is bioavailable and determines population iodine intake.

Iodine intake is important for thyroid function. Iodine content of natural waters is high in some areas and occurs bound in humic substances. Tap water is a major dietary source but bioavailability of organically bound iodine may be impaired.

Long-term home-based parenteral antibiotic treatment of a prosthetic vascular graft infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Survival for more than 5 y was obtained with home-based parenteral antibiotic therapy in a 68-y-old male with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of an aortic-bifemoral prosthetic graft. Surgical intervention was deemed to carry to high a risk and we suggest that lifelong suppressive antibiotic therapy may be an option in selected patients.