Solar hypothyroidism, a new disease of man in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

This report has enriched the diseases of the thyroid by one more disease which we have here given the name of solar hypothyroidism. Our main bases for creating this new disease are the chemo-pathology (absence or very little thyroid protease in the colloids) and the uniform and new histopathology which is very different from any hitherto described pathology of any known disease of the thyroid. The safest descriptive pathology that can be given to this report is that of an intermediate stage between the hyperplastic thyroid of toxic goiters and the hypoplastic thyroids of colloid goiters and those poisoned by thiouracil. The smooth bilateral enlargements along the lateral sides of the lobes and the clinical manifestations of the patients who are working for long hours in the sun are contributory to the diagnosis of this new diseaseThus far, our working hypothesis has been satisfied by the urinary iodine findings, chemopathology of the thyroid colloids, histopathology of the thyroids, and the newer signs and symptoms manifested by the subjects studied. (Summary and Conclusion)