Graves' Disease

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body fights against itself and causes the thyroid gland to become overactive. It is more common in women, but it can also occur in men.

Graves’ disease involves an overactive thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck. It produces thyroid hormone, which controls your metabolism, temperature regulation and keeps your muscles and organs working properly. This excess hormone production is called hyperthyroidism. However, someone can have hyperthyroidism but not Grave’s disease. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder. The body produces inflammation of the thyroid gland, causing it to become overactive.

The symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

• Anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping
• Eye problems like swelling, redness, bulging, dryness, itching, blurry vision, double vision
• Feeling warm
• Racing heartbeat
• Thickening of the skin in front of the shins
• Tremors
• Weight loss

It may also cause a goiter, or an enlarged thyroid gland. A goiter can develop in one or both sides of the thyroid gland. Goiters can often be seen or felt as a lump or mass in the neck. In some people, the goiter will start to grow down into the chest. This is referred to as a substernal goiter. As goiters become bigger, they can put pressure on your trachea or esophagus, causing symptoms such as:

• Choking sensation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing, particularly when lying down
• Pressure in the neck

The specific cause of Graves’ disease is unknown, but it may occur at higher rates in certain families.

Blood tests are used to diagnose Graves’ disease. The levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is low in Graves’ disease. The levels of thyroid hormone, such as T3 and T4, are high in Graves’ disease. Measuring antibodies called TSI or TRAb also help confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes, a radioactive iodine uptake study is used to confirm the diagnosis of Graves’ disease.

Treatment for Graves’ disease includes daily medications, radioactive iodine or thyroid surgery.

Medications can be used for several months to try and control the hyperthyroidism. If the medications do not control the disease, surgery or radioactive iodine may be necessary.

Radioactive iodine and surgery are used to manage the disease, but they can cause the thyroid to be underactive and you must then take medication to replace the thyroid hormone.

Therapy depends on the presence of eye symptoms, the presence and size of thyroid nodules and your preferences. Surgery is generally considered if the thyroid also has nodules, the gland is very large, the patient has eye disease (which may worsen if radioactive iodine is given) or if the patient wants to avoid radioactive iodine.

The University of Kansas Health System is part of an academic medical center. Patients have access to most advanced treatments and specialists including endocrinologists, ear, nose and throat specialists, interventional radiologists, oculoplastic surgery and more. Our ear, nose and throat and endocrinology teams are regularly recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the nation's best.

We provide comprehensive care in convenient locations.

As the teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kansas Medical Center, our team is involved in research and clinical trials. Our patients can often participate in clinical trials not available elsewhere.