W. H. ADAMS: LATE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE TO RADIOACTIVE
Table 3
Skin test responsiveness by radiation exposure group”
Radiation
No. in Each
No.
Tuberculin
Candida
Category
Category
Tested
Negative
Negative
Rongelap
62
38
16 (42.1%)
2 (5.3%)**
Utirik
137
72
Comparison
135
68
39 (54.2%)
35 (51.5%)
0 (0.0%)
2 (2.9%)
* See text for definition of positive and negativetests.
** Two persons, an 83-year-old Rongelap exposed man and a 43-year-old unexposed woman,
had positive tuberculin tests despite negative reactions to Candida antigen.
Table 4
Antithyroid antibodies in the different radiation exposure groups
Exposure
group (n)
Elevated
antithyroglobulin
Percent
elevated
Rongelap (55)
2
4%
Utirik (94)
4
4%
Comparison (82)
2**
2%
* The levels ranged between 6 and 1! U/1, with normal levels being < 5 U/1.
** One subject had elevated antimictrosomal antibodies (35 U/1) and a history of Grave's disease
with hyperthyroidism.
antibodies are less specific indicators of thyroid autoimmunedisease, but are useful as a screening
test. These two antibodies were sought in Marshallese sera. The results indicated no significant
difference among the exposure groups (Table 4). It is notable that in one U.S. study prevalence of
antithyroglobulin antibodies was 4.8% in normal children, and that prevalence increases with age.
These data indicate that autoimmune thyroid disease js not common in the Marshallese, regardless
ee
Cr
P32
on
ra
280