Transmission of thyrotoxicosis of autoimmune type by sibling allogeneic bone marrow transplant

Abstract

Thomson JA, Wilson RM, Franklin IM. Transmission of thyrotoxicosis of autoimmune type by sibling allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;133:564–6. ISSN 0804–4643 This case report is on a 25-years-old male with acute myeloblastic leukaemia who achieved a remission after cytoxic therapy and whole-body irradiation. He received a bone marrow transplant from his human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sister who had unsuspected autoimmune thyroid disease. Nine months later the bone marrow recipient developed thyrotoxicosis of autoimmune type at a time when his circulating lymphocytes were of 46XX karyotype. It is suspected that the thyrotoxicosis resulted from the transplantation of a clone of lymphocytes predisposed to the production of thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies. JA Thomson, University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth Building, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK