A study of triplets with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

The immunogenetics of autoimmune diabetes and autoimmune thyroid disease

Although medical genetics is a well-developed area of interest, relatively little is known about the diseases caused by the combination of many genes. These multiinfluenced diseases include the autoimmune endocrine diseases. Recent advances in the techniques for whole-genome screening have shown a variety of loci that are linked to the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and similar data are likely to be soon generated in autoimmune thyroid disease. Here, the authors survey the current state of genetic knowledge in these two areas and describe the investigative and analytical techniques that are now available. (Trends Endocrinol Metab 1997;8:63-70). (c) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.

Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome

Here we report on 12 affected members of a family with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. We present clinical evidence of overlap between Bannayan-Zonana syndrome. Riley-Smith syndrome, and Ruvalcaba-Myhre syndrome in this autosomal dominantly inherited condition. We expand the phenotypic spectrum to include Hashimoto thyroiditis, which occurred in 7 of our cases. Finally, we discuss the relationship between the syndrome and juvenile polyposis of infancy.

Familial Hashimoto's thyroiditis with kidney impairment

A 12 year old boy and his two sisters with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and renal impairment were studied. Three generations of this family had autoimmune thyroid disease: Graves' disease was diagnosed in the first generation, and the second and third generations had thyroid enlargement with abnormal thyroid function and immunological abnormalities. The disease in this family could not be explained simply by the types of human leucocyte antigens found. Renal disease in autoimmune thyroid disease is uncommon, treatment difficult, and the prognosis unknown. The proteinuria disappeared in all three children during the three and a half years of follow up, which implies that the renal impairment may be transitory in some patients.