Graves Disease

A detailed Summary of Graves Disease


Grave's disease is a basic defect in the immune system causing antibodies, which stimulate and attack the thyroid gland causing growth of the gland and overproduction of thyroid hormone. These antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscle and "pretibial skin", causing protruding eyes, opthalmopathy, and dermopathy thickening of the skin over the front of the legs.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It manufactures two thyroid hormones that are essential for metabolism and growth. The thyroid takes iodine from the food we eat and uses it to make thyroid hormones. If thyroid hormones are in short supply, a person feels sluggish, has a slow heartbeat, and can even feel depressed. This condition hypothyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone is called hyperthyroidism and is also a problem. This condition is almost the exact opposite of hypothyroidism. The individual has a fast heartbeat, weight loss, nervousness, and heat intolerance. In addition, hyperthyroidism can affect the eye. One of the conditions that results in hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. This cond


1. Anti-thyroid drugs which inhibit production or conversion of the active thyroid hormone;

The first treatment is about 20-30% effective, and the latter two treatments result in about a 90-95% remission rate of the disease. In a few cases, the treatments must be repeated. In all cases, lifetime follow-up laboratory studies must be done, and in almost all cases, lifetime replacement thyroid hormone must be taken.

2. Radioactive iodine (I-131), which destroys part or all of the thyroid gland and renders it incapable of overproducing thyroid hormone; or

3. Subtotal thyroidectomy, in which a surgeon removes most of the thyroid gland and renders it incapable of overproducing thyroid hormone. "

"Graves disease is found in less then ¼ of 1% of the population." Although it is fund most frequently in middle aged women, (8:1 more than men), it also occurs in children and in the elderly. There are several elements contributing to the development of Graves' disease. "There is a genetic predisposition to auto-immune disorders. Infections and stress play a part. Graves' disease

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Category: Science

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