Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome ( APS ) is a rare, inherited disorder, characterized by autoimmune thyroiditis with another organ specific autoimmune disease.

Observation

We report the case of 55 years old woman, descendant of a first degree consanguineous marriage, who presented at the age of 35 a premature ovarian insufficiency and alopecia. Eight months later, she developed a goiter with hyperthyroidism and the diagnosis of Grave’s disease was confirmed in front of high level of anti TSH receptor antibodies. During her hospitalization, we discovered a pancytopenia with severe anemia that needed a transfusion. Then she presented a diarrhea and the diagnosis of coeliac disease was confirmed. The procedure to follow was to put the patient under gluten free diet, and she was treated for her Grave’s disease with radioactive iodine. This patient present an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3C which is the association of autoimmune thyroiditis with alopecia and other organ-specific autoimmune disease.

Conclusion: APS is an autoimmune condition that affects the body’s endocrine glands, the cause is still unknown. Type three is more often seen in women in middle age. The morbi-mortality is determined by the specifics of each syndrome. It is important to assure the follow up of the patients to detect and diagnose the other autoimmunes disorders at an early stage.