Myxedema

Hall (1965) described 5 families in which 14 cases of myxedema occurred in addition to the 5 probands. In 1 of these families, a case of thyrotoxicosis was also observed, and in each of 2 families a relative had nontoxic goiter. A sixth proband had a daughter with thyrotoxicosis. In the families of 32 other patients with myxedema, no thyroid dysfunction was detected. Environmental factors, such as viral infection, cannot be excluded in the causation of such familial aggregation. However, the findings were considered compatible with sex-influenced recessive inheritance and also with the previous suggestion of a genetic relationship of myxedema to hyperthyroidism and to nontoxic goiter. In 1 family, 'bilateral inheritance of thyroid disease' was demonstrated.