Familial Thymic Aplasia — Genetic Defect or Maternal Effect

Armond S. Goldman, Randall M. Goldblum

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

To the Editor: Recently, Steele et al. described in the Journal1 the first cases of familial aplasia of the thymus and parathyroids. They concluded that in this family the disorder was genetic. The partial deficiencies of thymic and parathyroid function in the mother of the two affected infants were cited as evidence for maternal transmission, either by autosomal dominant or by X-linked dominant inheritance. Although variable penetrance of dominant genes is common, it seems possible that the familial pattern is due to a nongenetic mode of transmission. Indeed, maternal pharmacologic, infectious or metabolic factors may affect fetal development. In this. No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)108
Number of pages1
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume288
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 11 1973

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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