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Conjugal Graves Disease
- Susana A. Ebner, MD;
- Marie-Claude Badonnel, PhD;
- Lawrence K. Altman, MD; and
- Lewis E. Braverman, MD
Excerpt
Hyperthyroid Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by thyrotoxicosis, diffuse goiter, and antibodies directed against the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor, thyroglobulin (Tg), and thyroid peroxidase (TPO). The TSH receptor antibody is believed to stimulate the generation of cAMP in the thyroid, resulting in the increased synthesis and release of the thyroid hormones. The abnormal function of the immune system found in patients with this disease is strongly linked to a genetic predisposition. The incidence of thyroid disease among monozygotic twins is approximately 50%. This lack of complete concordance suggests that environmental factors, including infectious agents such as Yersinia enterocolitica (1)
Article and Author Information
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From the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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Grant Support: In part by Grant DK18919; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Requests for Reprints: Lewis E. Braverman, MD, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655.
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Current Author Addresses: Drs. Ebner, Badonnel, and Braverman: University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655.
Dr. Altman: New York Times, 229 West 43 Street, New York, NY 10036.
