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Kim, Kim, Kim, Rhee, Choi, Kim, and Shong: CAG Repeats in the Androgen Receptor Polymorphism do not Correlate with Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis
Original Article
Journal of Korean Endocrine Society

Journal of Korean Endocrine Society 2008; 23(2): 117-122.

Published online: 20 April 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2008.23.2.117

CAG Repeats in the Androgen Receptor Polymorphism do not Correlate with Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis

Won Gu Kim, Tae Yong Kim, Jung Min Kim2, Yoon Soo Rhee1, Hyun Jeung Choi1, Won Bae Kim, Young Kee Shong

Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.

1Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.

2Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Korea.

Received 23 November 2007       Accepted 19 January 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Endocrine Society

Abstract

Background

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) occurs mostly in males, but no studies have addressed the role of androgen in the disease. Hyperinsulinemia can precipitate acute paralysis in TPP patients. CAG repeats in the androgen receptor (AR), an X-linked gene, correlate with serum insulin levels.

Aim

To evaluate whether CAG repeats in the AR gene might predict the susceptibility to TPP in Korean male Graves' patients.

Methods

We evaluated CAG repeat length in a series of 33 male TPP patients and 48 control patients by direct sequencing of the PCR product of the AR promoter site. Control patients were male Graves' patients without a history of paralysis.

Results

The CAG repeat length varied from 15 to 34 (median of 23). The upper quartile of CAG length was equal to or above 26 repeats (long AR). The distribution of long AR was 0.30 in TPP and 0.15 in control patients, respectively (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.92~6.85; P = 0.09).

Conclusion

AR gene polymorphisms may not confer genetic susceptibility to TPP in Korean male patients with Graves' disease.

Keywords: Androgen receptor, Polymorphism, Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Representative sequences of androgen receptor gene CAG repeat. The CAG repeat began at nucleotide number 87 and end at nucleotide number 149. This meant that 21 CAG repeat was present in the sample.
jkes-23-117-g001
Fig. 2
Distribution of CAG repeats of the promoter lesion of the androgen receptor gene in male Graves' patients with (TPP) or without (GD only) history of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis.
jkes-23-117-g002
Table 1
Polymorphism at the androgen receptor gene in male patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) and male Graves' patients without previous history of paralysis (GD only)
jkes-23-117-i001

Genotype frequencies were given in parentheses.

*P values was calculated by Fisher's exact test.

†The CAG length was equal or above 26 repeats.

‡The CAG length below 26 repeats.

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