Genetic analysis of subacute (de Quervain's) thyroiditis

A weak association between subacute (de Quervain's) thyroiditis and HLA‐DRw8 (relative risk = 2.19, X²= 3.86) was observed. However, the association was not statistically significant if p value was corrected. Since it was confirmed that the association of subacute thyroiditis with HLA‐B35 was primary, and since this association was extremely strong, the two models (dominant and recessive) for the effect of an HLA‐linked gene which has a major effect on the pathogenesis of subacute thyroiditis were tested by the method described by Thomson & Bodmer using the frequency of HLA‐B35 in the patients. The data most fit to the recessive model for the HLA‐linked major gene involved in subacute thyroiditis.