Graves' Disease

What Is It?

Graves' disease is a disorder of the immune system which causes the thyroid gland to become overactive. It is an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells instead of protecting them from outside invaders. In Graves' disease, the body's immune system makes abnormal chemicals called immunoglobulins that stimulate the thyroid gland to make too much thyroid hormone. This overactive thyroid state is called hyperthyroidism.

Doctors don't know what causes Graves' disease, but the fact that it tends to run in families indicates that the disease may have a genetic (inherited) component. It is possible that the abnormal production of immunoglobulins is triggered by some unknown factor in the environment, and the immune system fails to stop this overproduction because of an inherited defect.

Graves' disease affects women more than men. It most frequently strikes between the ages of 20 and 40 but can occur at any age.

Symptoms

Graves' disease can cause the following symptoms:

• Nervousness

• Insomnia

• Dramatic emotional swings

• Sweating

• Tremors and shakes

• Increased heart rate

• Frequent bowel movements

• Unexplained weight loss (often despite increased appetite)

• Sensitivity to warm temperatures (feeling hot all the time)

• Muscle weakness

• Shortness of breath

• Palpitations

In women, menstrual periods may become less frequent or stop altogether. In older people, particularly people with heart disease, the disease may cause heart failure or heart-related chest pain called angina.

Graves' disease also may cause:

• Goiter - Goiter is a swelling in the lower front portion of the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland.

• Eye symptoms - Graves' disease can cause swelling of tissues around the eyes, which creates a characteristic "staring" or "frightened" appearance. The eyes bulge out and the eyelids appear to be pulled back. There is less blinking. The person may have double vision, itching and weeping.

• Skin symptoms - Rarely there may be swelling of the feet and lower legs. Skin in this swollen area may appear thicker and darker than normal skin, and it may itch.