Pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism.
Graves' disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. It occurs predominantly in a genetically predisposed population. Autoimmune abnormalities constitute a major component of the disease. Immunoglobulins of patients with Graves' disease manifest a number of thyroid-targeted activities, including a thyroid-stimulating activity that is related to interaction of immunoglobulin G (IgG) with the TSH receptor. That hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease is caused by thyroid-stimulating IgGs is an attractive hypothesis but the evidence in favor of the hypothesis is still insufficient. A better alternative hypothesis is not available, however.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000209:etiology*; D007109:Immunity; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D008135:Long-Acting Thyroid Stimulator / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D008135:Long-Acting Thyroid Stimulator