Comparison of blood serum iodine levels with use of Iodoplex and povidone iodine ointment.

Concentrations of iodine were assayed in burn patients, who were covered with Iodoplex ointment up to 30% of their body surface. The iodine levels in the serum were found to be in linear proportion to the area treated with an increase of 30 micrograms iodine per 100 ml of serum for 1% of TBSA. The maximal levels were reached within 24 hours of applying the Iodoplex ointment and decreased quickly following its discontinuation. Concentrations of the iodine were much lower than those found after treatment with povidone iodine, a fact which indicates that using Iodoplex in second-degree burns and donor sites entails fewer possible complications due to high levels of iodine in the serum than with povidone iodine.