Familial thyrotoxicocis in five Nigerians

Abstract

We describe the occurrence of thyrotoxicosis in four Nigerian families. Hitherto, the descriptions of familial thyrotoxicosis have been confined to the Caucasian population and only recently in a Chinese family. This is the first description of familial thyrotoxicosis in the Nigerian population. The mutation analysis of the genomic DNA of the TSH receptor of these patients is required to define the genetic mutations that caused the disease. We recommend that a high index of suspicion for familial thyrotoxicosis should be exercised in the clinical evaluation of patients who present with hyperthyroidism.

Keywords: familial, thyrotoxicosis, thyrotropin receptor, genetic mutations

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 8(2) 2005: 133-135