Familial distribution of thyroid disease and diabetes: further evidence for aetiological heterogeneity of diabetes mellitus
Gray, R.S.; Elton, R.A.; Clarke, B.F.
Quarterly Journal of Medicine 52(206): 244-255
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-5622 PMID: 6351152 Document Number: 216099
The prevalences of thyroid disease, insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes were compared in 1st degree relatives of diabetics with and without coexisting autoimmune thyroid disease. Thyroid disease was more common in siblings of diabetics with thyroid disease than in those of diabetics without thyroid disease. Insulin-dependent diabetes was more common in siblings of diabetics with a personal or family history of thyroid disease than in those of diabetics without such a history. The prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes was unrelated to that of thyroid disease but was greater in siblings of non-insulin-dependent diabetics than in those of insuln-dependent diabetics. The etiological distinction between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes is supported. Further heterogeneity probably exists within the population of insulin-dependent diabetics based on the presence of a personal or family history of thyroid disease.