Many relatives
of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease have positive test results
for thyroid autoimmunity
(November 2003)
The background of the study. There
are both genetic and environmental risk factors for autoimmune thyroid
disease. In this study, risk factors for autoimmune thyroid disease
and thyroid function were assessed in women who had a relative known
to have autoimmune thyroid disease.
How the study was done. The study
subjects were 803 healthy women who had a first- or second-degree
relative with autoimmune thyroid disease, either Graves' disease
or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The women underwent a brief physical
examination and had serum measurements of thyroid function and thyroid
antibodies.
The results of the study. Among
the 803 women, 89 percent had one first-degree relative or more
with autoimmune thyroid disease, and 11 percent had one second-degree
relative or more with the disease. Four percent of the 803 women
had hypothyroidism, and 2 percent had hyperthyroidism. Serum antithyroid
peroxidase antibody concentrations were high in 26 percent, but
only 8 percent had high serum antithyroglobulin antibody concentrations.
The conclusions of the study. Among
healthy women with relatives who have autoimmune thyroid disease,
a substantial fraction have high serum antithyroid antibody concentrations,
but few have thyroid dysfunction.
The original article. Strieder TG,
Prummel MF, Tijssen JG, Endert E, Wiersinga WM. Risk factors for
and prevalence of thyroid disorders in a cross-sectional study among
healthy female relatives of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Clin Endocrinol 2003;59:396-401.
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