Graves’ Disease

Abstract

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies. Graves’ disease was originally known as “exophthalmic goiter” but is now named after Sir Robert Graves, an Irish doctor who first described the condition in 1835. A number of conditions can cause hyperthyroidism, but Graves’ disease is the most common, affecting around 1 in 200 people. It most often affects women under the age of 40, but it is also found in men. It affects an estimated 2–3 percent of the world’s population. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSIs) binds to and activates thyrotropin receptors, causing the thyroid gland to grow and the thyroid follicles to increase synthesis of thyroid hormone. The overproduction of thyroid hormones can have a variety of effects on the body causes exophthalmic goiter, graves ophthalmopathy, graves dermopathy etc.,. Thyroid profile including antithyroid antibodies, radioactive iodine uptake study, and thyroid scan are the main diagnostic investigations to rule out Graves’ disease. The major aim of the treatment is to inhibit the overproduction of thyroid hormones by targeting the thyroid gland, to reduce the symptoms, and prevention of complication is also major challenges.