[Auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt for treatment of juvenile endemic goitre].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt on juvenile endemic goitre, and regulative action on thyroid hormones. METHODS: Seventy-five cases of juvenile endemic goitre were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt, and a control group treated with iodine salt alone. The changes of T3, T4 and TSH contents were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, serum T3 increased and TSH decreased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt can promote reduction of endemic goitre or elimination, and effectively regulate synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones.