Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis: Report of a Kindred with Viral, Immunological and Chemical Studies

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Abstract
A family in which 5 of 8 members have evidence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is presented. Attempts to isolate a virus from the thyroid glands of 2 patients were unsuccessful. Serological tests for recent viral infections were performed and the difficulty in interpreting these results is discussed. Orally administered 131I was studied in the thyroid glands and sera of 2 patients. The majority of the thyroidal 131I appeared in the thyroglobulin (19S) fraction, but a significant percentage was present in the albumin-like (4S) fraction. Serum 131I appeared in organic form at an increased rate, and a markedly increased percentage appeared as iodoprotein. Fifty-six close relatives of the “R” family were studied, and, while a hereditary predisposition to develop thyroiditis may exist, the data obtained are equally compatible with the hypothesis that an environmental factor is etiologically important.