Graves' Disease — Overview, Symptoms, Treatments, and Other Resources.
Graves' Disease Information from the National Library Of Medicine
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to over activity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It is caused by an abnormal immune system response that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormones. Graves' disease is most common in women over age 20. However, the disorder may occur at any age and may affect men as well. Read more at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Graves' Disease at the University of Pittsburgh Medical center
An in depth look at risk factors, sumptoms, diagnosis, etc at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Graves' Disease at The National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service
Graves’ disease, also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Hyperthyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormone than the body needs.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck below the larynx, or voice box. The thyroid gland makes two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). More at The National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service
Podcast: Graves’ Disease - An Overview
Dr. Gene Howard, Director of the Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery Center at the Storm Eye Institute, describes Graves’ Disease of the thyroid. He focuses on how the disease affects the eyes and explains how those eye changes can be improved through surgery. Dr. Howard also discusses post-operative recovery. Listen at the Medical University of South Carolina Podcast Library.
Video: Controversies and Conundrums in Pediatric Graves' Disease
Watch the video at the University of Wisconsin-Madison IME Video Library.
Video: Eye Surgery for Graves Disease
Patients with Graves Disease often have a distinct, protruding look to their eyes. Find out how surgery helped Sandra Hickey feel better about how she looks. View at the Medical University of South Carolina .
Screening for thyroid disease.
The USPSTF found fair evidence that the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test can detect subclinical thyroid disease in people without symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, but poor evidence that treatment improves clinically important outcomes in adults with screen-detected thyroid disease. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Management of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum.
If a subnormal serum TSH concentration is detected during gestation, hyperthyroidism must be distinguished from both normal physiology of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum because of the adverse effects of OH on the mother and fetus. Differentiation of Graves' disease from gestational thyrotoxicosis is supported by presence of clinical evidence of autoimmunity, a typical goiter, and presence of TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb). See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations
Abstract: The etiology of autoimmune thyroid disease: a story of genes and environment
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are prevalent autoimmune diseases, affecting up to 5% of the general population. Autoimmune thyroid diseases arise due to complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy after Treatment for Graves' Hyperthyroidism with Antithyroid Drugs or Iodine.
Previous randomized trials have suggested an association between radioiodine treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the occurrence of worsening or development of TAO in patients who were treated with radioiodine or antithyroid drugs. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Thyroid disorders of neonates born to mothers with Graves' disease
Maternal hyperthyroidism implies the risk of thyroid abnormalities in the newborn. We describe retrospectively the clinical presentation, treatment and follow up of 28 children born of hyperthyroid mothers. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Loss of integrity of thyroid morphology and function in children born to mothers with inadequately treated Graves' disease
Central congenital hypothyroidism (CH-C) in neonates born to mothers with inadequately treated Graves' disease usually needs T(4) supplementation. The thyroid and its regulatory system have not yet been extensively studied after T(4) withdrawal, until we observed disintegrated thyroid glands in some patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the occurrence and pathogenesis of disintegrated thyroid glands in CH-C patients. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Orbital radiation for Graves' ophthalmopathy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether orbital radiation offers effective and safe treatment for Graves' ophthalmopathy. METHODS: Medical literature databases were searched to identify all published reports relating to orbital radiation treatment for Graves' ophthalmopathy. To be included in the technology assessment, reports had to provide original data, to report on a case series or uncontrolled trial of at least 100 subjects or a randomized clinical trial of any size, to focus on orbital radiation for the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy, and to follow-up patients for at least 3 months. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Graves' disease in childhood: advances in management with antithyroid drug therapy
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children. Antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment is recommended as the initial treatment, leading to a marked improvement in most symptoms within 1 month of treatment initiation. Remission is achieved in 30% of children after a first course of ATD. Alternative treatments, such as radioactive iodine or thyroidectomy, are considered in cases of relapse, lack of compliance or ATD toxicity. The risk of relapse after a first course of ATD treatment for a median period of 2 years has been shown to be higher in patients with severe biochemical hyperthyroidism at diagnosis, young children and patients of non-Caucasian origin. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: The utility of radioiodine uptake and thyroid scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism
The value and practice of thyroid radionuclide imaging in the diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism is unsettled. Our objectives were to determine the influence of thyroid uptake and scintigraphy on the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and the prediction of outcome following radioiodine therapy. Patients and design: We reviewed records and scintigraphic studies on 881 hyperthyroid patients done between 2000-2007. The agreement between the clinical and scintigraphic diagnosis was evaluated by kappa statistics. We determined the relationship between 4-hour (123)I uptake and the outcome of (131)I treatment in 626 patients. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Comparison of methimazole and propylthiouracil in patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease
Although methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) have long been used to treat hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease (GD), there is still no clear conclusion about the choice of drug or appropriate initial doses. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the MMI 30 mg/d treatment with the PTU 300 mg/d and MMI 15 mg/d treatment in terms of efficacy and adverse reactions. Full text available free through PubMed.
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Illustration of the Thyroid Gland
Source: Wikimedia
Exophthalmos (bulging eyes) often occurs in untreated Grave's disease.
Source: PubMed
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