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Graves' disease. Current concepts.

I R McDougall
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Abstract

Graves' disease is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder. There is no universal agreement on the mechanism of Graves' disease, but the over-activity of the thyroid is due to an antibody capable of attaching to and activating the TSH receptor of follicular cells. There are other extrathyroidal features that are not caused either by this antibody or by hyperthyroidism. The clinical diagnosis is generally straightforward and can be confirmed by in vitro measurement of thyroid hormones and TSH. A measurement of radioiodine uptake is also valuable. Treatment is not specific for the immunologic defect, but its purpose is to lower the thyroid hormone levels to normal. This can be achieved with antithyroid medication, radioiodine iodine-131, or thyroidectomy. In most clinical situations, a strong argument can be made for iodine-131 therapy, which is safe and definitive, although posttreatment hypothyroidism and the need for lifelong thyroxine are to be expected.

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BibTeXRIS

I R McDougall. 1991. Graves' disease. Current concepts.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30473-4

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PubMed2006

[Graves' orbitopathy].

Graves' orbitopathy or thyroid associated orbitopathy is the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease with autoimmune mechanism which is still incompletely understood. The epidemiologic data provided evidence that severe, infiltrative orbitopathy is present in 3-5% of patients, and the quality of life is impaired even in individuals with mild form of this disease. The anti-TSH receptor and anti-eye muscle autoantibodies have been proved to be involved into pathomechanism of orbitopathy. The accumulation of glucose-aminoglycan and proinflammatory cytokines in retro-orbital fibroblasts are responsible for enlargement of eye muscle and the retro-orbital tissues resulting in inflammation of periorbital tissues and proptosis. Management of orbitopathy can be either medical and surgical. The medical therapy relies on the use of high dose systemic glucocorticoids or retro-orbital irradiation, either alone or in combination. Recent randomized clinical trials have confirmed that glucocorticoids are more effective in intravenous than oral use. Retro-orbital radiotherapy is an effective and safe therapy for orbitopathy and the side effects are avoidable. Somatostatin analogs are not so effective as it has been waited in previous studies. The high dose intravenous immunoglobulins and pentoxifylline therapy are favorable, however, prospective randomized trials have been not yet made. The manifestation of orbitopathy includes both unavoidable (genetic background) and avoidable (smoking, cytokine therapy, iodine exposure, radioiodine therapy) risk factors. Cigarette smoking must be given up by all patients with Graves' disease. Pentoxifylline therapy is advisable for all patients with Graves'diseases, especially for those who have genetic susceptibility to autoimmune disorders and not able to give up cigarette smoking.

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PubMed2006

The surgical management of Graves' disease.

BACKGROUND: The historical aspects of the pathophysiology and treatment of Graves' disease are briefly discussed in this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The three treatment modalities of Graves' disease are anti-thyroid drug therapy, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery. Although the majority of patients with Graves' disease in the U.S. are treated with radioactive iodine, surgery still plays an important role when patients cannot tolerate anti-thyroid drug therapy, when medical treatment is rejected by patients, or when surgery is deemed the fastest and safest route in managing the patient. CONCLUSIONS: The indications for surgical management of Graves' disease are discussed with emphasis on available data supporting the extent of thyroid resection based on the incidences of hypothyroidism, recurrence of hyperthyroidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism.

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