PREDISPOSITION TO THYROID AUTOIMMUNE-DISE ASES

OBJECTIVES: Genetic predisposition is required for the expression of t hyroid autoimmune disorder addition to the immune dysfunction and the environmental factors. METHODS: In order to evaluate the role of this genetic factor we reported the results of immunological and hormonal i nvestigations of 62 members (TD), belonging to a large Akr family who are related to 40 patients with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroid itis. RESULTS: The hormonal analyses showed that 19 subjects exhibited an infraclinical hypothyroidism, subdivided into 7 members with patho logical rates of TSH evocative of thyroid insufficiency and 12 others with compensative thyroid insufficiency. Seventeen subjects of the Akr family who had solely antithyroid autoantibodies were considered as p otential candidates to develop thyroid autoimmune diseases. The clinic al follow-up, during two years, confirmed the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 3 members among 19 subjects with infraclinical hypothy roidism (TD05, TD28 arid TD54) and in only 1 member out of the 17 pote ntial candidates (TD03). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a serolog ical study of hormones and/or autoantibodies directed against thyroid antigens, could allow the detection of predisposed subjects to develop a thyroid autoimmune pathology. The Akr family seems to be suitable f or the study of the localization of susceptibility genes to TAID. (C) 1997, Masson, Paris.