Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1), also known as autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), Whitaker syndrome, or candidiasis-hypoparathyroidism-Addison's disease-syndrome, is a subtype of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, in which multiple endocrine glands dysfunction as a result of autoimmunity. It is a genetic disorder attributed to a defect in the AIRE gene that normally confers immune tolerance. It is inherited in a recessive fashion.
Its main features include:
- A mild immune deficiency, leading to persistent mucosal and cutaneous infections with candida yeasts. There is also decreased function of the spleen (hyposplenism).
- Autoimmune dysfunction of the parathyroid gland (leading to hypocalcaemia) and the adrenal gland (Addison's disease: hypoglycemia, hypotension and severe reactions in disease).
- Other disease associations are:
- hypothyroidism
- hypogonadism and infertility
- vitiligo (depigmentation of the skin)
- alopecia (baldness)
- malabsorption
- pernicious anemia
- chronic active (autoimmune) hepatitis
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