Background: Although the thyroid hormone levels are in the normal range,
dietary iodine intake can be insufficient. According to WHO, iodine excreted with urine is a measure of its supply. Due to International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD), the urinary iodine (UI) should be above 100 μg per 1L of urine. The moderate iodine deficiency occurs when UI is from 50 to 100 μg/L and the severe deficiency when UI is below 50 μg/L. The aim of the study was to assess the iodine management by UI analysis and reviewing the hormones values, i.e. thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroxin (FT4) in lung transplant recipients.
Material/Methods: This study included 9 patients (8 men and 1 women; mean age 43.6±11.6 yr). UI concentration was evaluated by modifi ed PAMM method (the spectrophotometric measurement based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction).The concentrations of TSH, FT4 and FT3 were performed using a Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay (MEIA).
Results: The average UI concentration in the whole group was 115.2±87.4 μg/L but 2 patients (22%) were in severe defi ciency with very low UI concentrations (5.6 and 6.9 μg/L). The moderate iodine deficiency was also revealed in 2 patients (22%). In 2 patients from group with iodine deficiency abnormal TSH and FT3 concentrations were observed (0.47 μIU/mL and 0.65 pg/mL, respectively).
Conclusions: There exists significant iodine deficiency in some patients after lung transplantation. The insufficient iodine turnover may occur prior to thyroid hormones abnormalities.

Keywords: Lung Transplantation