Abstract
The congenital rubella syndrome consists of miscellaneous clinical manifestations, some of which relate to the endocrine system. In this report, we describe a case of congenital rubella syndrome with late onset hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus. This male patient was born to a mother who developped rubella during the tenth week of gestation ; he presented a typical congenital rubella syndrome with mental retardation, neuro-sensory deafness, hypoplasia of the dental enamel and chorioretinitis.
Hyperthyroidism was diagnosed at the age of 3.10 years and was treated success fully with propylthiouracil during 4 years ; the course was complicated by premature craniosynostosis and a craniectomy was performed at the age of 7 years.
Overt diabetes mellitus developped at 17 years and was well controlled by insulin therapy.
Histocompatibility (HL-A) antigens were A2, B8, B40.
Although thyroid disorders and diabetes mellitus habe been previously described as late complications of the congenital rubella syndrome to our knowledge this is the first case presenting with an association of both endocrinopathies. It is possible that in this particular patient HLA B8 antigens might be responsible for an altered autoimmune junction with increased susceptibility to rubella infections.
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Floret, D., Rosenberg, D., Hage, G. et al. Hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and congenital rubella syndrome. Pediatr Res 13, 1198 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197910000-00105
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197910000-00105
