Clinical features and pathogenesis of thyrotoxicosis in adult Melanesians in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cause of an apparent increase in the incidence of thyrotoxicosis in the Melanesian population of the coastal areas around Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. DESIGN: Consecutive patients attending the thyroid clinic at Port Moresby General Hospital were included in the study which collected clinical and immunogenetic data. PATIENTS: One hundred and ninety-four patients with thyrotoxicosis were studied. The mean age was 31 years. The clinical features were typical for thyrotoxicosis apart from increased pigmentation, which occurred in the majority of patients and which reversed with treatment with antithyroid drugs and resolution of the thyrotoxicosis. MEASUREMENTS: ..