Scientists Close in on Graves'

[Guest guest]

I think this is good news, though I'm not sure how soon it will translate into a

cure. Isn't it shocking to hear that Graves' affects one person in 100? I'm not

sure if that means genetic predisposition or actually developing Graves'.

B.

Scientists Close in on Identifying Cause of Graves' Disease

By Cherie Berkley

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Thursday, July 10, 2003

WebMD Medical News

July 10, 2003 -- A new discovery may soon help Graves' disease patients attack

the problem at its source for the first time. Researchers report they have

isolated the first human thyroid-stimulating antibody found in Graves' disease

patients.

Scientists say they are excited about the finding because it could be an

important step in understanding the underlying cause of this thyroid disorder.

It may also lead to the development of new agents for controlling the

destructive action of the antibodies.

The findings are reported in the July 12 issue of The Lancet .

In an editorial accompanying the study, Colin Dayan writes that the findings may

have implications for other hormonal disorders such as infertility because

fertility hormones act similar to thyroid hormones.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland, meaning the

immune system mistakenly attacks healthy thyroid tissue. People with Graves'

disease have an enlarged thyroid and often bulging of the eyeballs.

For decades, researchers have searched for ways to isolate the antibody that

causes Graves' disease in hopes of developing a way to stop it in its tracks.

The disease is treatable but there is no way to prevent it.

Maintaining a normal functioning thyroid is critical. Thyroid hormones affect

nearly every tissue in the body and are linked to functions such as metabolism,

heart rhythms, temperature, mood, and menstrual cycling in women.

In Graves' disease, overactivation of the thyroid gland by the body's own immune

system causes an enlarged thyroid. As a result, Graves' disease patients often

experience muscle weakness, tremors, heart palpitations, bulging of the eyes,

vision problems and weight loss. Graves' disease is one of the most common

thyroid disorders, affecting about 1 in 100 people.

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SOURCE: News release, The Lancet.

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