Abstract
This brief review describes the history of Graves’ disease, starting with the original descriptions by Parry, Graves and von Basedow. The true aetiology of the disorder was uncovered in the 1950s and 1960s, based on the search for a novel thyroid stimulator which turned out to be an immunoglobulin G autoantibody. Assays for these thyroid stimulatory antibodies have been continually refined and their epitopes on the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor are increasingly well characterized. We also understand far more about the genetic and environmental susceptibility factors that predispose to disease, and even thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy has now been better defined as primarily a T-cell-mediated disease resulting from cytokine stimulation of orbital fibroblasts. These advances should improve treatment options for Graves’ disease in the foreseeable future.
References
1.
Müller AF, Drexhage HA, Berghout A: Postpartum thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis in women of childbearing age: recent insights and consequences for antenatal and postnatal care. Endocr Rev 2001;22:605–630.
2.
Winsa B, Adami H-O, Bergström R, Gamstedt A, Dahlberg PA, Adamson U, Jansson R, Karlsson A: Stressful life events and Graves’ disease. Lancet 1991;338:1475–1479.
3.
Taylor S: Graves of Graves’ disease, 1796–1853. J R Coll Physicians London 1986;20:298–300.
4.
Graves RJ: Clinical lectures delivered at the Meath Hospital during the session 1834–1835. Lecture XII. Newly observed affection of the thyroid. London Med Surg 1835;7:515–523.
5.
Davies TF: A thyroid-stimulating life: an interview with Dr J. Maxwell McKenzie. Thyroid 2001;11:1035–1042.
6.
Kriss JP, Pleshakov V, Chien JR: Isolation and identification of the long acting thyroid stimulator and its relation to hyperthyroidism and circumscribed pretibial myxedema. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1964;24:1005–1028.
7.
McKenzie JM, Zakarija M: The clinical use of thyrotropin receptor antibody measurements. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1989;69:1093–1096.
8.
Parmentier M, Libert F, Maenhaut C, Lefort A, Gerard C, Perret J, Van Sande J, Dumont JE, Vassart G: Molecular cloning of the thyrotropin receptor. Science 1989;246:1620–1622.
9.
Nagayama Y, Kaufman KD, Rapoport B: Molecular cloning, sequence and functional expression of the cDNA for the human thyrotropin receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1989;165:1184–1190.
10.
Rapoport B, McLachlan SM: Thyroid autoimmunity. J Clin Invest 2001;108:1253–1259.
11.
Adams DD, Purves HD: Abnormal responses to the assay of thyrotrophin. Proc Univ Otago Med Sch 1956;34:11–12.
12.
Rose NR, Witebsky E: Changes in the thyroid glands of rabbits following active immunisation with rabbit thyroid extracts. J Immunol 1956;76:417–427.
13.
Roitt IM, Doniach D, Campbell PN, Hudson RV: Auto-antibodies in Hashimoto’s disease (lymphadenoid goitre). Lancet 1956;ii:820–821.
14.
Campbell Gowan B: Myxoedema and its relation to Graves’ disease. Lancet 1895;i:178–180.
15.
Weetman AP: Graves’ disease. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1236–1248.
16.
Brix TH, Kyvik KO, Christensen K, Hegedüs L: Evidence for a major role of heredity in Graves’ disease: a population-based study of two Danish twin cohorts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001;86:930–934.
17.
Chiovato L, Pinchera A: Stressful life events and Graves’ disease. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:680–682.
18.
Rapoport B, Chazenbalk GD, Jaume JC, McLachlan SM: The thyrotropin (TSH) receptor: interaction with TSH and autoantibodies. Endocr Rev 1998;19:673–716.
19.
Coles AJ, Wing MG, Smith S, Coraddu F, Greer S, Taylor C, Weetman A, Hale G, Chatterjee VKK, Waldmann H, Compston A: Pulsed monoclonal antibody treatment and autoimmune thyroid disease in multiple sclerosis. Lancet 1999;354:1691–1695.
20.
Plummer HS, Boothby WM: The value of iodine in exophthalmic goitre. J Iowa Med Soc 1924;14:66–73.
21.
Richter CR, Clisby KH: Toxic effects of the bitter tasting phenylthiocarbamide. Arch Pathol 1942;33:46–57.
22.
MacKenzie JB, MacKenzie CG, McCollum EV: The effect of sulfanilylguanidine on the thyroid of the rat. Science 1941;94:518–519.
23.
Astwood EB, Sullivan J, Bissell A: Action of certain sulfonamides and of thiourea upon the function of the thyroid gland of the rat. Endocrinology 1943;32:210–225.
24.
Astwood EB: Treatment of hyperthyroidism with thiourea and thiouracil. J Am Med Assoc 1943;122:78–81.
25.
Hertz S, Roberts A, Evans RD: Radioactive iodine as an indicator in the study of thyroid physiology. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1938;38:510–513.
26.
Hertz S, Roberts A: Radioactive iodine in the study of thyroid physiology. VII. The use of radioactive iodine therapy in hyperthyroidism. J Am Med Assoc 1946;131:81–85.
27.
Chapman EM, Roberts RD: The treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine. J Am Med Assoc 1946;131:86–91.
28.
Sawin CT, Becker DV: Radioiodine and the treatment of hyperthyroidism: the early history. Thyroid 1997;7:163–176.
29.
Furth ED, Becker DV, Ray BS, Kane JW: Appearance of unilateral infiltrative exophthalmos of Graves’ disease after successful treatment of this same process and the contralateral eye by apparently total surgical hypophysectomy. J Clin Endocrinol 1962;22:518–524.
30.
Feldon SE, Weiner JM: Clinical significance of extraocular muscle volumes in Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 1982;100:1266–1269.
31.
Rundle FF, Pochin EE: Orbital tissues in thyrotoxicosis: a quantitative analysis relating to exophthalmos. Clin Sci 1944;5:51–74.
32.
Many M-C, Costagliola S, Detrait M, Denef JF, Vassart G, Ludgate M: Development of an animal model of autoimmune thyroid eye disease. J Immunol 1999;162:4966–4974.
© 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
2004
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.
