Routine blood work (CBC, electrolytes, extended electrolytes, renal and liver function) was unremarkable, with further tests demonstrating no evidence of systemic autoimmune or inflammatory (ANA, CRP, ESR), infectious (HIV, HBV, HCV, lyme, syphilis – RPR and VDRL, Whipple’s disease), vasculitis (negative vasculitis panel), toxic or heavy metal (lead, copper, iron and ceruloplasmin), endocrine (TSH, anti-TPO) or metabolic (plasma amino acid and urine amino and organic acid analysis) disease. The gene discussed is TPO; the disease is vasculitis.