Thyroid peroxidase deficiency in Batten-Spielmeyer-Vogt disease.

Thyroid tissue from two patients with Batten-Spielmeyer-Vogt disease (BSV) was studied for peroxidase enzyme activity and for morphological abnormalities by light and electron microscopy. Diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of intracytoplasmic material identical to that described in other reported cases of BSV. There was a substantial decrease in peroxidase activity in the thyroid tissue from both patients. An abnormally low level of peroxidase activity had previously been demonstrated in the white blood cells of these patients. Thyroid biopsy offers obvious advantages over brain biopsy, provides adequate tissue for enzyme analysis, and allows the demonstration of the intracytoplasmic structures characteristic of BSV.