ABSTRACT
President John F. Kennedy (JFK) had a complex medical history that is now thought to be an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 with Addison's disease and hypothyroidism. He also had gastrointestinal symptoms from adolescence, which now fit well with coeliac disease. In addition, he had a chronic back problem, which contributed to a chronic pain syndrome. This review looks at JFK's various diseases and focusses on the history of coeliac disease, as well as its presentation. JFK's Irish ancestry supports the hypothesis of a coeliac disease started early in his youth.
Subject(s)
Celiac Disease/history , Chronic Pain/history , Famous Persons , Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune/history , Addison Disease/history , Back Pain/history , History, 20th Century , Humans , Hypothyroidism/historySubject(s)
Child Nutrition Sciences/history , Gastroenterology/history , Pediatrics/history , Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune/history , Societies, Medical/history , Child , Child Nutrition Sciences/organization & administration , Europe , Gastroenterology/organization & administration , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Pediatrics/organization & administrationABSTRACT
At the age of 43 years, John F. Kennedy was the youngest man ever elected president. Throughout both his campaign and his presidency, he was portrayed as the epitome of youth and vigor. In fact, he had the most complex medical history of anyone to occupy the White House. The recent opening of his White House medical records has provided researchers greater insight into the multiple medical conditions that afflicted Kennedy. A recent review of these records, coupled with other available sources, allows new understanding of his health history that can now be explained in the context of a unifying autoimmune endocrine disorder.
