scholarly journals Graves’ Disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Aragão Prazeres de Oliveira ◽  
Beatriz Nayara Muniz de Oliveira ◽  
Eduarda da Silva Souza Paulino ◽  
Fernanda Carolinne Marinho de Araujo ◽  
Paula Gabriele Tabosa Lyra

DG presents with three main presentations: hyperthyroidism with diffuse goiter, infiltrative ophthalmopathy and pre-tibial myxedema. Patients with Graves’ disease can rarely develop severe hyperthyroidism. The hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease is characterized immunologically by the lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland and by the activation of the immune system with elevation of the circulating T lymphocytes. In GD, goiter is characteristically diffuse. May have asymmetric or lobular character, with variable volume. The clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism are due to the stimulatory effect of thyroid hormones on metabolism and tissues. Nervousness, eye complaints, insomnia, weight loss, tachycardia, palpitations, heat intolerance, damp and hot skin with excessive sweating, tremors, hyperdefecation and muscle weakness are the main characteristics. In the laboratory diagnosis, biochemical and hormonal exams will be done to assess thyroid hormones and the antithyroid antibodies. Additionally, imaging tests may be performed, such as radioactive iodine capture in 24 hours, ultrasonography, thyroid scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration. It is necessary to make the differential diagnosis of Graves’ disease for thyrotoxicosis, subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis and toxic nodular goiter. The treatment of DG aims to stop the production of thyroid hormones and inhibit the effect of thyroid hormones on the body. Hyperthyroidism caused by DG can be treated in the following ways: it may be the use of synthetic antithyroid medicines, thionamides, MMI being a long-term medicine, it allows a single daily dose, and adherence to treatment occurs, a disadvantage is that it cannot be used in pregnant women; beta-blockers, preferably used in the initial phase of DG with thionamides; radioactive iodine therapy (RAI), being the best cost–benefit and preventing DG recurrence; finally the total thyroidectomy, causing the withdrawal of the thyroid gland. Therefore, it should be discussed with the patient what is the best treatment for your case, with a view to the post and against each approach. If the patient develops Graves ophthalmopathy, in lighter cases the artificial tears should be used, and in more severe cases can be used as treatment, corticosteroids, orbital decompression surgery, prisms and orbital radiotherapy. In addition, the patient should keep their body healthy, doing exercise and healthy eating, following the guidance of their doctor.

Author(s):  
Claudio Marcocci ◽  
Filomena Cetani ◽  
Aldo Pinchera

The term thyrotoxicosis refers to the clinical syndrome that results when the serum concentrations of free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, or both, are high. The term hyperthyroidism is used to mean sustained increases in thyroid hormone biosynthesis and secretion by the thyroid gland; Graves’ disease is the most common example of this. Occasionally, thyrotoxicosis may be due to other causes such as destructive thyroiditis, excessive ingestion of thyroid hormones, or excessive secretion of thyroid hormones from ectopic sites; in these cases there is no overproduction of hormone by thyrocytes and, strictly speaking, no hyperthyroidism. The various causes of thyrotoxicosis are listed in Chapter 3.3.5. The clinical features depend on the severity and the duration of the disease, the age of the patient, the presence or absence of extrathyroidal manifestations, and the specific disorder producing the thyrotoxicosis. Older patients have fewer symptoms and signs of sympathetic activation, such as tremor, hyperactivity, and anxiety, and more symptoms and signs of cardiovascular dysfunction, such as atrial fibrillation and dyspnoea. Rarely a patient with ‘apathetic’ hyperthyroidism will lack almost all of the usual clinical manifestations of thyrotoxicosis (1). Almost all organ systems in the body are affected by thyroid hormone excess, and the high levels of circulating thyroid hormones are responsible for most of the systemic effects observed in these patients (Table 3.3.1.1). However, some of the signs and symptoms prominent in Graves’ disease reflect extrathyroidal immunological processes rather than the excessive levels of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland (Table 3.3.1.2).


2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (05) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Dembowski ◽  
H.-J. Schroth ◽  
K. Klinger ◽  
Th. Rink

Summary Aim of this study is to evaluate new and controversially discussed indications for determining the thyroglobulin (Tg) level in different thyroid diseases to support routine diagnostics. Methods: The following groups were included: 250 healthy subjects without goiter, 50 persons with diffuse goiter, 161 patients with multinodular goiter devoid of functional disorder (108 of them underwent surgery, in 17 cases carcinomas were detected), 60 hyperthyroid patients with autonomously functioning nodular goiter, 150 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 30 hyperthyroid patients with Graves’ disease. Results: The upper limit of the normal range of the Tg level was calculated as 30 ng Tg/ml. The evaluation of the collective with diffuse goiter showed that the figure of the Tg level can be expected in a similar magnitude as the thyroid volume in milliliters. Nodular tissue led to far higher Tg values then presumed when considering the respective thyroid volume, with a rather high variance. A formula for a rough prediction of the Tg levels in nodular goiters is described. In ten out of 17 cases with thyroid carcinoma, the Tg was lower than estimated with thyroid and nodular volumes, but two patients showed a Tg exceeding 1000 ng/ml. The collective with functional autonomy had a significantly higher average Tg level than a matched euthyroid group being under suppressive levothyroxine substitution. However, due to the high variance of the Tg values, the autonomy could not consistently be predicted with the Tg level in individual cases. The patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis showed slightly decreased Tg levels. In Graves’ disease, a significantly higher average Tg level was observed compared with a matched group with diffuse goiter, but 47% of all Tg values were still in the normal range (< 30 ng/ml). Conclusion: Elevated Tg levels indicate a high probability of thyroid diseases, such as malignancy, autonomy or Graves’ disease. However, as low Tg concentrations cannot exclude the respective disorder, a routine Tg determination seems not to be justified in benign thyroid diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
I. A. Matsueva ◽  
A. B. Dalmatova ◽  
T. V. Andreychenko ◽  
E. N. Grineva

Treatment of thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves’ disease or multinodular toxic goiter, is not difficult, in most cases, since the prescription of thionamides allows to normalize the level of thyroid hormones quickly and safety. But in a number of cases this therapy might be associated with serious side effects (agranulocytosis, toxic hepatitis, cholestasis), severe allergic reactions and also individual intolerance on thionamides. In such cases lithium carbonate is used, especially in severe thyrotoxic syndrome. It is known, that lithium can accumulate in the thyroid gland at a concentration 3–4 times higher than in the plasma. Perhaps, lithium uses Na+/I- ions. It can inhibit the synthesis and secretion thyroid hormones of thyroid gland. The article presents the cases reported the use of lithium carbonate in thyrotoxicosis treatment before thyroidectomy. Administering low doses of carbonate lithium (900 mg/ per day) renders significant decrease or normalization of thyroid hormones concentration within 7–14 days, thus it let perform thyroidectomy on the patients. No side effects have been identified with such a short course of lithium carbonate treatment.


2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 3611-3617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Allahabadia ◽  
Jacquie Daykin ◽  
Michael C. Sheppard ◽  
Stephen C. L. Gough ◽  
Jayne A. Franklyn

There is little consensus regarding the most appropriate dose regimen for radioiodine (131I) in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. We audited 813 consecutive hyperthyroid patients treated with radioiodine to compare the efficacy of 2 fixed-dose regimens used within our center (185 megabequerels, 370 megabequerels) and to explore factors that may predict outcome. Patients were categorized into 3 diagnostic groups: Graves’ disease, toxic nodular goiter, and hyperthyroidism of indeterminate etiology. Cure after a single dose of 131I was investigated and defined as euthyroid off all treatment for 6 months or T4 replacement for biochemical hypothyroidism in all groups. As expected, patients given a single dose of 370 megabequerels had a higher cure rate than those given 185 megabequerels, (84.6% vs. 66.6%, P &lt; 0.0001) but an increase in hypothyroidism incidence at 1 yr (60.8% vs. 41.3%, P &lt; 0.0001). There was no difference in cure rate between the groups with Graves’ disease and those with toxic nodular goiter (69.5% vs. 71.4%; P, not significant), but Graves’ patients had a higher incidence of hypothyroidism (54.5% vs. 31.7%, P&lt; 0.0001). Males had a lower cure rate than females (67.6% vs. 76.7%, P = 0.02), whereas younger patients (&lt;40 yr) had a lower cure rate than patients over 40 yr old (68.9% vs. 79.3%, P &lt; 0.001). Patients with more severe hyperthyroidism (P &lt; 0.0001) and with goiters of medium or large size (P &lt; 0.0001) were less likely to be cured after a single dose of 131I. The use of antithyroid drugs, during a period 2 wk before or after 131I, resulted in a significant reduction in cure rate in patients given 185 megabequerels 131I (P &lt; 0.01) but not 370 megabequerels. Logistic regression analysis showed dose, gender, goiters of medium or large size, and severity of hyperthyroidism to be significant independent prognostic factors for cure after a single dose of 131I. We have demonstrated that a single fixed dose of 370 megabequerels 131I is highly effective in curing toxic nodular hyperthyroidism as well as Graves’ hyperthyroidism. Because male patients and those with more severe hyperthyroidism and medium or large-sized goiters are less likely to respond to a single dose of radioiodine, we suggest that the value of higher fixed initial doses of radioiodine should be evaluated in these patient categories with lower cure rates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. e122-e124
Author(s):  
O Hamdy ◽  
S Raafat ◽  
GA Saleh ◽  
K Atallah ◽  
Mahmoud M Saleh ◽  
...  

Primary thyroid carcinoma after thyroid ablation by radioactive iodine is rare. We present a very rare condition of lateral apparent papillary thyroid carcinoma eight years after receiving radioactive iodine for thyrotoxicosis, which led to complete anatomical and functional involution of the thyroid gland.


2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 11-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Kirsten

The thyroid gland contains many follicular cells that store the thyroid hormones within the thyroglobulin molecule until they are needed by the body. The thyroid hormones, often referred to as the major metabolic hormones, affect virtually every cell in the body. Synthesis and secretion of the thyroid hormones depend on the presence of iodine and tyrosine as well as maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid system. Interruption of this development, as occurs with premature delivery, results in inadequate production of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine, leading to a variety of physiologic conditions. Pathologic conditions occur in the presence of insufficient thyroid production or a defect in the thyroid gland. Laboratory tests are important in diagnosing conditions of the thyroid gland. A thorough history in combination with clinical manifestations and radiologic findings are also useful in diagnosing specific thyroid conditions. Nurses play an important role in identifying and managing thyroid disorders and in providing supportive care to infants and their families.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan H. Seplowitz, MD ◽  
Beth Ann Ditkoff, MD ◽  
Anastasios D. Papadopoulos, MD ◽  
Paul Lo Gerfo, MD

1959 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAIRE J. SHELLABARGER ◽  
JUDITH R. BROWN

SUMMARY 1. A study has been made of the compounds synthesized by and present in the thyroid gland of larval and adult Xenopus laevis using radioactive iodine and chromatography. 2. Tadpoles undergoing active metamorphosis produced thyroxine and trace amounts of 3:5:3′-triiodothyronine. Less thyroxine and no triiodothyronine was detected in tadpoles approaching the end of metamorphosis, and neither compound was detected in tadpoles in early stages of metamorphosis. Adult toads produced thyroxine and trace amounts of triiodothyronine. The presence of monoiodotyrosine and diiodotyrosine was a constant finding. 3. It is suggested that the synthesis of thyroid hormones in amphibia is similar to that in other vertebrates.


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