Graves' disease

Evidence: Antibody

Names

Autoimmune hyperthyroidism
Basedow disease
Graves' disease
Graves’ hyperthyroidism
Exophthalmic goiter
Parry disease
Toxic diffuse goiter

Description

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune thyroid disorder that affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that regulate processes involved with energy storage and consumption (metabolism), including maintenance of weight, breathing, heart rate, and temperature.

In Graves’ disease, antibodies cause the thyroid to enlarge and to produce hormones, even when the body doesn’t need them. Excessive thyroid hormone production disrupts the regulation of metabolism. The heart, skin, muscles, eyes, and other organs can be affected.

Patients often experience loss of weight, tiredness, and heat sensitivity. Some patients develop Graves’ ophthalmopathy, a subtype of Graves’ disease characterized by protruding eyes. The cause of the disease is uncertain, but risk may increase with excessive stress, certain genes, infection, pregnancy, other autoimmune disorders, and smoking. Graves’ disease is more common in females than in males. Graves’ disease is a chronic condition with no cure, but symptoms are manageable through medication and surgery.