Study of possible genetic predisposition to endemic goitre among the Fur and Baggara tribes of the Sudan.

The overall prevalence rate of endemic goitre among the Fur and Baggara tribes of Western Sudan was found to be 74%. Family studies in 60 nuclear families showed a significantly higher incidence of endemic goitre among the offspring of affected parents than among the offspring of normal parents. This suggests a possible genetic predisposition to endemic goitre. The proportion of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) non-tasters was found to be 13% among the goitrous subjects compared to 17.5% among the non-goitrous subjects. However, the association with PTC as well as with 6 blood-genetic markers, was not statistically significant.