Goiterous congenital hypothyroidism caused by thyroid peroxidase deficiency in a family of domestic shorthair cats

Mazrier H, French A, Ellinwood NM, et al.

J Vet Intern Med 2003;17:395-396.

Congenital hypothyroidism may either be caused by dysmorphogenesis of the thyroid gland (hypo- or aplasia) or by dyshormonogenesis associated with goiter.Disorders of hormonogenesis include the inability of the thyroid to concentrate iodide, thyroglobulin deficiency, and organification defects caused by thyroid peroxidase (TPO) deficiency. Congenital hypothyroidism has been described in humans and animals, including sporadic feline cases. We describe here the clin- ical features, pathologic findings, endocrine and biochemical abnormalities, and breeding studies of a family of domestic shorthair cats with primary congenital hypothyroidism.