Iodine and thyroid: The discovery of congenital hypothyroidism
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20240318-00201
- VernacularTitle:碘与甲状腺：先天性甲状腺功能减退症的发现史
- Author:
Qiman LIU
1
;
Wenpei TANG
Author Information
1. 北京大学医学人文学院，北京 100191
- Keywords:
Congenital hypothyroidism;
Iodine;
Goiter
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2024;27(6):525-528
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
This paper meticulously traces the discovery of congenital hypothyroidism. Throughout the history of medical science, civilizations around the world have documented cases of iodine deficiency goiter and cretinism. However, the relationship between iodine and goiter was not recognized until the early 19th century in Europe. Anatomical knowledge and clinical practice concerning the thyroid gland deepened, by the end of the 19th century, European physicians confirmed that a malfunction in thyroid could lead to cretinism. Following discussions and studies by doctors from various European countries, the modern medical term "congenital hypothyroidism" was intially used in the United Kingdom, replacing "cretinism", and then widely accepted.
