Hyperthyroidism. Causes, etiology of Graves’ disease, clinical features, general aspects of treatment

The etiology of Graves’ disease remains unknown. The leading current theory considers it to be an hereditary autoimmune disorder of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity with production of abnormal thyroid stimulators. Uncommon causes of hyperthyroidism include autonomous thyroid nodules, administration of iodine to patients with nodular goiter, subacute thyroiditis, trophoblastic tumors producing molar thyrotropin, large differentiated thyroid carcinomas, struma ovarii, pituitary tumors producing thyrotropin, and taking excessive amounts of thyroid medication.

The clinical features of hyperthyroidism are described. Subtotal thyroidectomy is effective treatment, but has the disadvantage of significant complications which include hypothyroidism, rare mortality, hypoparathyroidism, paralysis of vocal cords and altered voice, recurrence of hyperthyroidism, rare thyroid crisis and morbidity from the wound.