Congenital hypothyroidism in a child with unsuspected familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia caused by a mutation (R218H) in the human albumin gene.

We found familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH) in a 5-month-old boy with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) who had a blood thyrotropin (TSH) level of 479 mU/L but normal total serum thyroxine (T4) and higher than normal total triiodothyronine (T3) levels. Thyroid hormone substitution began at 5 weeks of age when T4 and T3 concentrations were below normal. Until the age of 5 months, treatment with levothyroxine was suboptimal on the basis of high serum TSH levels despite above-normal T4 levels. FDH was confirmed by isoelectric focusing and testing of other family members. DNA analysis of the patient revealed R218H, a mutation in the serum albumin gene associated with FDH, which was also present in the patient's euthyroid father and brother. Thyroid scans, serum thyroglobulin measurements, and free T4 measurements using equilibrium dialysis or 2-step immunoassay methods can identify thyroid hormone-binding protein defects and simplify the diagnosis and treatment of infants with CH.