Thyroid Disorders
Inheritance patterns and prenatal diganosis (hypothyroidism)
Inheritance patterns
Some defects of thyroxine synthesis are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. It is very rare to have more than one affected individual in any one family with abnormal development of the thyroid gland.
Prenatal diagnosis
This may be available if the genetic abnormality is already known. As affected newborns do very well if thyroxine therapy is started following early postnatal diagnosis, there is no clinical need at the present for prenatal diagnosis.
Congenital hypothyroidism in women
| Thyroid overactivity (hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis) ![]()