home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0378
/
03788.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
9KB
|
231 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK03788}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Graves' Disease}
$Subject{Graves' Disease Basedow Disease Parry Disease Exophthalmic Goiter
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992 National Organization for Rare
Disorders, Inc.
560:
Graves' Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Graves Disease) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Basedow Disease
Parry Disease
Exophthalmic Goiter
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Graves' Disease is a disease affecting the thyroid gland. It is thought
to occur as a result of an imbalance in the immune system. This disorder
causes increased thyroid secretion (hyperthyroidism), enlargement of the
thyroid gland (goiter) and protrusion of the eyeballs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Graves' Disease include eyes that bulge from the head, producing
a characteristic startled appearance. Development of an enlarged thyroid
gland (goiter) and increased thyroid secretion (hyperthyroidism) also occurs.
This in turn may result in swelling of the legs and eyes, extreme sensitivity
to light, irregular heart beat, clubbing of the fingers, and the development
of breasts in males (gynecomastia). It may also cause heat intolerance,
emotional instability, weight loss or hyperactivity. Symptoms may occur as a
single incident, and then go into remission, or recurrent attacks may occur.
Causes
The exact cause of Graves' Disease is not known. It is thought to be
inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. (Human traits including the
classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for
that condition, one received from the father and one from the mother. In
recessive disorders, the condition does not appear unless a person inherits
the same defective gene from each parent. If one receives one normal gene
and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease,
but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of transmitting the disease to
the children of a couple, both of whom are carriers for a recessive disorder,
is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of their children will be carriers,
but healthy as described above. Twenty-five percent of their children will
receive both normal genes, one from each parent and will be genetically
normal.) Graves' Disease may also be a disease of the autoimmune system.
(Autoimmune disorders are caused when the body's natural defenses
(antibodies) against invading organisms suddenly begin to attack perfectly
healthy tissue). Excessive levels of thyroid hormone cause the symptoms of
Graves' Disease.
Affected Population
Graves' Disease is a rare condition affecting females more often than males.
It can occur at any age and in almost any part of the world. A 1987 survey
of 924 hyperthyroid patients from 17 thyroid centers in six European
countries indicated that sixty percent of hyperthyroid patients have Graves'
Disease.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Graves'
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or Lymphoid Thyroiditis is believed to be an
autoimmune disorder which can destroy the thyroid gland and produce below
normal amounts of thyroid hormone secretion (hypothyroidism). Some
individuals appear to have both Hashimoto's Disease and Graves' Disease at
the same time. Hashimoto's Disease can occur at any age but is most common
in the third to fifth decades of life, and is more common in women than men.
It is characterized by an enlarged thyroid gland that is infiltrated with
lymphocytes. Eventually, the thyroid may be completely destroyed. Treatment
with drugs to reduce antithyroid antibody formation is the treatment of
choice.
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of Graves' Disease in adults usually involves the use of
radioactive iodine. However, in children and pregnant women, drugs that
reduce release of thyroid hormone are preferred. Antithyroid drugs are
usually either propylthiouracil or methimazole. In patients that need
further drug treatment to control the release of thyroid hormone, scientists
suggest the use of thyroxine alone or in conjunction with other drug therapy.
Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families. Other
treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Surgery as a method of treatment for Graves' Disease is usually reserved
for patients in whom the other forms of treatment have not been successful.
Lifelong follow-up is necessary if the thyroid is removed.
Therapies: Investigational
Clinical trials are underway to study the myocardial 31-phosphate imaging in
hyperthroidism. Interested persons may wish to contact:
Paul W. Ladenson, M.D.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Blalock 904
600 N. Wolfe St.
Baltimore, MD 21205
(301) 955-3663
to see if further patients are needed for this research.
Clinical trials are underway to study the physiologic determinants of
exercise capacity in hyperthyroidism. Interested persons may wish to
contact:
Wade Martin
Washington University School of Medicine
4566 Scott Ave., Campus Box 8113
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-2392
to see if further patients are needed for this research.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1992. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Graves' Disease, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
Graves Disease Foundation
P.O. Box 130
Mentone, AL 35984
National Graves Disease Foundation
320 Arlington Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32211
(904) 724-6744
The Thyroid Foundation of America, Inc.
Massachusetts General Hospital, ACC 630
Boston, MA 02114
American Thyroid Association
Endocrine/Metabolic Service 7D
Washington, DC 20307
800-542-20207
The Thyroid Foundation of Canada
CD/Box 1597
Kingston, Ontario
Canada K71 5C8
The Paget's Disease Foundation
(and other diseases of bone resorption)
200 Varick St., Suite 1004
New York, NY 10014-4810
(212) 229-1582
(800) 23-PAGET
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Box NDDIC
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 468-6344
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. Pp. 1280.
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown
and Co., 1987. Pp. 1927-1931, 2302.
GRAVES' DISEASE. MANIFESTATIONS AND THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS. K. F.
McFarland, et al.; Postgrad Med, (March, 1988, issue 83 (4)). Pp. 275-282.
HIGH SERUM PROGESTERONE IN HYPERTHYROID MEN WITH GRAVES' DISEASE. K.
Nomura, et al.; J Clin Endocrinol Metab (January, 1988, issue 66 (1)). Pp.
230-232.
GRAVES' DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH HISTOLOGIC HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS. S.A.
Falk, et al.; Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg (February, 1985, issue 93(1)). Pp.
86-91.
ADMINISTRATION OF THYROXINE IN TREATED GRAVES' DISEASE: EFFECTS ON THE
LEVEL OF ANTIBODIES TO THYROID-STIMULATION HORMONE RECEPTORS AND ON THE RISK
OF REOCCURRENCE OF HYPERTHYROIDISM. K. Hashizume, et al., N Eng J Med,
(April 4, 1991, issue 324). Pp. 947-953.
TREATMENT FOR GRAVES' DISEASE; TELLING THE THYROID TO REST., P.W.
Ladenson, N. Eng J Med, (April 4, 1991, issue 324). Pp. 989-900.