Symptoms and Treatments for Grave's Disease
Symptoms and Treatments for Grave's Disease
Graves' disease is a basic defect in the immune system, causing production of antibodies, which stimulate and attack the thyroid gland, causing growth of the gland and overproduction of thyroid hormone. Similar antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscles and in the pretibial skin (the skin on the front of the lower leg). There are three components to Graves’ disease:
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Hyperthyroidism (overproduction of the thyroid hormone)
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Ophthalmopathy, especially protrusion of the eyeballs
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Dermopathy with skin lesions
What are some symptoms?
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Fatigue
Weight Loss
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Restlessness (and restless sleep)
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Rapid and irregular heart beat
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Changes in libido (sex drive)
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Muscle weakness
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Heat intolerance
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Tremors
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Enlarged thyroid gland
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Increased sweating
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Nervousness & irritability
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Eye complaints, such as redness and swelling, blurred or double vision
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Hair changes
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Erratic behaviour
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Increased appetite
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Distracted attention span
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Decrease in menstrual cycle
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Increased frequency of stools
Who can get Graves’?
Graves’ only occurs in less than ¼ of 1% of the population. Although Graves' disease most frequently occurs in women in the middle decades (8:1 more than men), it also occurs in children and in the elderly. There are several elements contributing to the development of Graves' disease. There is a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders. Infections and stress play a part. Graves' disease may have its onset after an external stress or in other instances it may follow a viral infection or pregnancy. Many times the exact cause of Graves' disease is simply not known. It is not contagious, although it has been known to occur coincidentally between husbands and wives. Of research importance, the Graves' gene in DNA has not yet been identified. However, it is known that the Graves’ gene is on chromosome #10.
Treatment (the 3 most common):
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Anti-thyroid drugs, which inhibit production or conversion of the active thyroid hormone;
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Radioactive iodine (I-131), which destroys part or all of the thyroid gland and renders it incapable of overproducing thyroid hormone; or
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Subtotal thyroidectomy, in which a surgeon removes most of the thyroid gland and renders it incapable of overproducing thyroid hormone.
The first treatment is about 20-30% effective, and the latter two treatments result in about a 90-95% remission rate of the disease. In a few cases, the treatments must be repeated. In all cases, lifetime follow-up laboratory studies must be done, and in almost all cases, lifetime replacement thyroid hormone must be taken.