Wolf-Chaikoff Effect It is a reduction in thyroid hormone levels caused by ingestion of a large amount of iodine(more than 2mg/day) which suppresses NADPH oxidase activity as well as NIS & TPO genes expression. Jan Wolff and Isreal Lyon Chaikoff first reported that injection of iodine in rats almost completely inhibited " Organification of iodine " in the thyroid gland by an " Autoregulatory phenomenon ". The Wolff-Chaikoff effect lasts several days(~10 days), after which it is disappeared by a process known as " Escape Phenomenon " which is described by resumption of normal organification of iodine and normal TPO function. The Wolff-Chaikoff effect can be used as a treatment principle against hyperthyroidism by infusion of a large amount of iodine to suppress the thyroi d gland. By- Souti Das image source- twitter
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