Names |
- Autoimmune hyperthyroidism
- Thyrotoxicosis due to Graves' disease
Category: Glands |
Prevalence |
2,096,457 cases in the US (Eaton 2011). Female/Male ratio: No data. |
Age of Onset |
Onset typically occurs between ages 30 and 50. |
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.
Evidence of autoimmunity: Antibody
|
Patient Groups |
|
Bloggers |
|
Symptoms |
|
Resources |
Link to Clinical Trials Link to PubMed |
References |
Link to Mayo Clinic
Link to Cleveland Clinic
Link to Healthline
|
|
Profile by: Neha RamjuttunProfile updated September 2024Charts generated Nov 16, 2024 at 09:55 AM ET |
|
Graves' disease sex breakdown
Please wait while the Graves' disease sex breakdown results are loaded
Graves' disease age breakdown
Please wait while the Graves' disease age breakdown results are loaded
Patient ethnicities
Please wait while the Patient ethnicities results are loaded
|