Graves' disease

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Graves' disease, also known as toxic diffuse goiter, Basedow's disease or Flajani-Graves-Basedow disease, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It frequently results in, and is the most common cause of, hyperthyroidism. It also often results in an enlarged thyroid. Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include irritability, muscle weakness, sleeping problems, a fast heartbeat, poor tolerance of heat, diarrhea and unintentional weight loss. Other symptoms may include thickening of the skin on the shins, known as pretibial myxedema, and eye bulging, a condition caused by Graves' ophthalmopathy. About 25 to 30% of people with the condition develop eye problems. The exact cause of the disease is unclear, but symptoms are a result of antibodies binding to receptors on the thyroid, causing over-expression of thyroid hormone. Persons are more likely to be affected if they have a family member with the disease. If one monozygotic twin (identical twin) is affected, a 30% chance...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Jonathan Trobe, M.D. - University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, CC BY 3.0