Of those patients, the following had to be excluded: 15 were TPO Ab positive, 32 were taking thyroid hormones (due to autoimmune thyroid disease or after thyroid surgery), 5 thionamides, 40 were taking prednisolone > 5 mg/day, 4 amiodarone, 4 anticonvulsives, and 10 estrogens. The gene discussed is TPO; the disease is autoimmune thyroid disease.