Familial Aggregation of Autoimmune Thyroiditis in First-Degree Relatives of Patients with Juvenile Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Abstract

Several studies have shown aggregation of autoimmune thyroiditis in families by estimation of thyroid antibodies. However, the prevalence by concurrent estimation with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and thyroid antibodies has not been previously reported. We therefore studied 222 first-degree relatives (group 1) of 71 index cases diagnosed as lymphocytic thyroiditis on FNAC and 81 family members (group 2) of 23 goitrous children diagnosed as colloid goiter on FNAC for comparison. Successful FNAC conducted in 122 group 1 subjects revealed lymphocytic thyroiditis in 51 (42%), whereas lymphocytic thyroiditis was diagnosed in only 5 goitrous subjects (13%) in group 2. Among group 1 subjects with FNAC-proven lymphocytic thyroiditis, antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies were found in 35 (67%), while in anti-TPO antibody positive goitrous relatives of group 1, lymphocytic thyroiditis was found in 36 (78%). Eight new cases of overt hypothyroidism and 45 new cases of subclinical hypothyroidism were diagnosed among group 1 subjects. Our study suggests: (1). familial clustering of autoimmune thyroiditis; (2). if only FNAC or thyroid antibodies is used for diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis in children, 22%-33% of cases are likely to be missed; and (3). serum thyrotropin (TSH) should be offered to all first-degree relatives of patients with juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis.

High prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome characteristics in girls with euthyroid chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis: a case–control study

“…Besides, they also observed that 42.3% of PCOS subjects had hypoechoic tissue pattern typical of autoimmune thyroiditis on USG in comparison to 6.5% in controls (P!0.001). Familial aggregation and genetic predisposition of these two apparently diverse disorders along with a recent study demonstrating high prevalence of serologic parameters of autoimmunity (anti-histone and anti-dsDNA antibodies) in women with PCOS may suggest the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of PCOS (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)24). Similar findings supporting a potential link between PCOS and autoimmunity have been reported by two other groups (25,26).…”

“…Elevated fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, indicative of significantly higher IR in both of our PCOS and non-PCOS sub-groups of CLT girls when compared to controls, may indicate some pathogenic link between autoimmunity and IR (12,13). Similarly, higher levels of fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol and testosterone in non-PCOS subgroup of CLT girls as compared to controls also suggest some commonality in the etiopathogenesis of CLT and PCOS.…”

“…High prevalence of CLT in Down's, and Turner's syndromes (12), and its association with the HLA DR3, DR5, and HLA DRB1*1404 genes (13,14) suggests that CLT may have a genetic contribution. Similarly, the evidence of a strong familial association in the first-degree relatives of PCOS subjects suggests a role of genetics in its etiopathogenesis, and several genes have been identified to date (15)(16)(17).…”

Occurrence of Hashimoto thyroiditis among the first- and second-degree relatives of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis

“…A familial aggregation of autoimmune thyroiditis has been described and the positivity of anti-TPO antibodies has been reported in 27-34% of the relatives of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. In addition a parental history of hypo or hyperthyroidism has been reported in about 20% of mothers of subjects with HT (6). Various studies have shown an increased prevalence of HT in first and second degree relatives of SLE patients (3,4); aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis as to whether relatives of patients with SLE and HT could be at increased risk of developing HT and should therefore be screened for such condition.…”

“…Two relatives were reported to have had a history of papillary carcinoma. Hashimoto thyroiditis is a common cause of hypothyroidism, with a reported prevalence of 1-4% in the general population (6,7). A familial aggregation of autoimmune thyroiditis has been described and the positivity of anti-TPO antibodies has been reported in 27-34% of the relatives of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.…”