Eugene Hertoghe (1860-1928): Pioneer in endocrinology and the treatment of hypothyroidism

TEKİNER H., Yale E. S., Yale S. H.

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL BIOGRAPHY, 2025 (AHCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/09677720241307877
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF MEDICAL BIOGRAPHY
  • Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, American History and Life, Historical Abstracts, MEDLINE
  • Keywords: Endocrinology, eponym, history of medicine, hypothyroidism, Hertoghe sign
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Eug & egrave;ne Hertoghe (1860-1928), a Belgian internist and former vice-president of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of chronic hypothyroidism. He provided a detailed clinical description of the condition, emphasizing its multisystemic manifestations and hereditary aspects. Hertoghe also documented the therapeutic use of thyroid extract, reporting its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of hypothyroidism. Among his contributions, he described the "Hertoghe sign," a rare clinical feature characterized by the loss of the outer third of the eyebrows, commonly associated with myxoedema, as well as with cases of toxic poisoning, infections, and atopic dermatitis.