Thyroid morphological findings in the mothers of infants with congenital hypothyroidism

Editor,—Little information is available on the aetiology of primary not transient congenital hypothyroidism due to thyroid malformations. Usually it is considered to be a sporadic disease; however, to date, there are no reliable studies to identify some possible family risk factors for the disease.1 2Therefore between April and September 1996, during therapeutic follow up of affected children, we examined the mothers of 19 consecutive infants with congenital hypothyroidism (group A) screened through our regional newborn screening program (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) and 17 age matched volunteer mothers of unaffected children …