Subclinical Hashimoto's thyroiditis in gonadal dysgenesis

Two patients with gonadal dysgenesis are described. One had X-isochromosome and the other had a 45,X karyotype. They both had Hashimoto's thyroiditis with extremely low levels of thyroid hormones, but no clinical signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism, and no goiter. Even with replacement therapy and restoration of normal thyroid hormone levels, there was no increase in their growth rates. The need for routine thyroid hormone determinations in patients with gonadal dysgenesis is emphasized. The absence of clinical signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism in a patient with gonadal dysgenesis does not exclude the presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.