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Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the thyroid gland, leading to an overproduction of thyroid hormones. It is characterized by several distinctive features, including:
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine - T3 and thyroxine - T4). This condition also is called overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism speeds up the body's metabolism (Hyperthyroidism - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic, 2022). Thyroid hormones affect many body systems, so signs and symptoms of Graves' disease can wide-ranging such as weight loss, increased appetite, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, sweating, tremors, and heat intolerance.
Graves' Opthalmopathy
Graves' Opthalmopathy
A distinguishing characteristic of Graves’ is eye problems. It involves inflammation and swelling of the tissues and muscles behind the eyes. It is an eye condition causing inflamed eye muscles with accompanying bulging of the eyes (exophthalmos). Approximately 30-50% of Graves’ patients develop this condition in its mild form and about 5% develop the severe form (Autoimmune Association, 2021). Other common symptoms include dry or irritated eyes, double vision, sensitivity to light, and sometimes vision loss. Graves' ophthalmopathy often appears at the same time as hyperthyroidism or several months later. But signs and symptoms of ophthalmopathy may appear years before or after the onset of hyperthyroidism, but can also occur even there's no hyperthyroidism.
Diffuse Guitor
Diffuse Guitor
A diffuse toxic goiter refers to a diffusely hyperplastic thyroid gland that is excessively overproducing thyroid hormones. A diffuse toxic goiter refers to a diffusely hyperplastic thyroid gland that is excessively overproducing thyroid hormones. As a result, the thyroid gland becomes visibly enlarged. The goiter is typically diffuse, meaning it affects the entire thyroid gland rather than being localized to one specific area.
Graves' Dermopathy
Graves' Dermopathy
A skin change that has reddish thickening of the skin resembles the texture of an orange peel. This results from a build-up of protein in the skin. It often occurs on the shins and the tops of the feet (Graves’ Disease - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic, 2022b).
A skin change that has reddish thickening of the skin resembles the texture of an orange peel. This results from a build-up of protein in the skin. It often occurs on the shins and the tops of the feet (Graves’ Disease - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic, 2022b).
Throid Acropachy
Throid Acropachy
A rare manifestation of Graves disease characterized by the periosteal new bone formation and digital clubbing. It affects about 0.3% of patients with Graves’ disease and often occurs in euthyroid and hypothyroid patients within weeks to many years after treatment of original thyrotoxicosis (Bartalena & Fatourechi, 2014). It is almost always associated with thyroid ophthalmopathy and dermopathy (Fatourechi et al., 2002). It manifests as soft tissue swelling with digital clubbing, and periosteal reaction of the extremities.
Autoimmune Features
Autoimmune Features
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's tissues. It is often associated with the presence of specific antibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs) or thyroid receptor antibodies (TRAb). These antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, leading to increased hormone production.
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