shapeofthings (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shapeofthings) wrote2007-03-29 04:47 pm
shapeofthings) wrote2007-03-29 04:47 pm
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Diagnosis and Information
Grave's Disease (Diffuse thyrotoxic goiter)
First described by Robert Graves in 1835, Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that arises as a consequence of the body producing antibodies against the thyroid (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins) that result in excess thyroid hormone production. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The antibodies stimulate the TSH receptor on the thyroid gland, resulting in enlargement of the thyroid and excess thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. Graves disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. The precipitating event for the production of the antibodies and the development of the disease remains poorly understood. Although stress is often noted prior to or coincident with the development of Grave's disease, it is not possible to state with complete certainty that there is a scientific link between stress and the development of Grave's disease.
The production of thyroid hormone is increased, causing a wide range of symptoms from anxiety and restlessness to insomnia and weight loss.
Symptoms
Protruding eyes (less common in children) Weight loss Increased appetite Nervousness Restlessness Heat intolerance Increased sweating Fatigue Muscle weakness Double vision Eye irritation Tremor Frequent bowel movements Menstrual irregularities Goiter (possible)
For most people, Graves disease responds well to treatment. However, thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine will sometimes cause hypothyroidism, which can lead to weight gain, depression, and mental and physical sluggishness. Antithyroid medications can also have serious side effects.
http://www.endocrineweb.com/hyper1.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000358.htm
http://www.endocrineweb.com/hyper1.html
Neo-Mercazole (carbimazole)
Carbimazole is a thyroid reducing agent. It is is rapidly metabolised to methimazole, which works to reduce the levels of thyroid hormone by decreasing thyroid hormone synthesis.
The thyroid gland uses a chemical called iodine in the formation of thyroid hormones. Iodine must be converted in the body to a useable form before it can be combined with other components to form thyroid hormones. Carbimazole acts to prevent the conversion of iodine to its useable form. Carbimazole also acts to block the combination of converted iodine with other components to form thyroid hormones. This results in a decreased production of thyroid hormones. Carbimazole does not immediately decrease the blood levels of thyroid hormones, because the existing high levels of thyroid hormones already produced by the thyroid gland must be used up by the body. This means it may take three to four weeks after starting carbimazole treatment before the thyroid hormone levels begin to decrease. Some improvement is usually felt within one to three weeks. However, full beneficial effects usually take four to eight weeks.
Adverse reactions usually occur in the first eight weeks of treatment. The most frequently occurring reactions are nausea, headache, arthralgia, mild gastric distress, skin rashes and pruritus. These reactions are usually self-limiting and may not require withdrawal of the medicine. Blood and lymphatic system disorders. Bone marrow depression has been reported and can lead to agranulocytosis. Rare cases of pancytopenia/aplastic anaemia and isolated thrombocytopenia have also been reported. Additionally, very rare cases of haemolytic anaemia have been reported. Patients should always be instructed to recognise symptoms which may suggest bone marrow depression, to stop the medicine and to seek medical advice immediately. In such patients, blood cell counts should be performed, particularly where there is any clinical evidence of infection.
Symptoms
Headache Joint pain (arthralgia) Skin rashes Itching (pruritus) Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain Hair loss (alopecia) Decrease in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)Muscle disorders (myopathy)
Carbimazole crosses the placenta but, provided the mother's dose is within the standard range, and her thyroid status is monitored, there is no evidence of neonatal thyroid abnormalities. Studies have shown that the incidence of congenital malformations is greater in the children of mothers whose hyperthyroidism has remained untreated than in those to whom treatment with carbimazole has been given.NeoMercazole is secreted in breast milk and, if treatment is continued during lactation, the patient should not continue to breast-feed her baby.
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datasheet/n/Neo-Mercazoletab.htm
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/displaydoc.asp?DocumentID=14594
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001813.html
First described by Robert Graves in 1835, Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that arises as a consequence of the body producing antibodies against the thyroid (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins) that result in excess thyroid hormone production. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The antibodies stimulate the TSH receptor on the thyroid gland, resulting in enlargement of the thyroid and excess thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. Graves disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. The precipitating event for the production of the antibodies and the development of the disease remains poorly understood. Although stress is often noted prior to or coincident with the development of Grave's disease, it is not possible to state with complete certainty that there is a scientific link between stress and the development of Grave's disease.
The production of thyroid hormone is increased, causing a wide range of symptoms from anxiety and restlessness to insomnia and weight loss.
Symptoms
For most people, Graves disease responds well to treatment. However, thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine will sometimes cause hypothyroidism, which can lead to weight gain, depression, and mental and physical sluggishness. Antithyroid medications can also have serious side effects.
http://www.endocrineweb.com/hyper1.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000358.htm
http://www.endocrineweb.com/hyper1.html
Neo-Mercazole (carbimazole)
Carbimazole is a thyroid reducing agent. It is is rapidly metabolised to methimazole, which works to reduce the levels of thyroid hormone by decreasing thyroid hormone synthesis.
The thyroid gland uses a chemical called iodine in the formation of thyroid hormones. Iodine must be converted in the body to a useable form before it can be combined with other components to form thyroid hormones. Carbimazole acts to prevent the conversion of iodine to its useable form. Carbimazole also acts to block the combination of converted iodine with other components to form thyroid hormones. This results in a decreased production of thyroid hormones. Carbimazole does not immediately decrease the blood levels of thyroid hormones, because the existing high levels of thyroid hormones already produced by the thyroid gland must be used up by the body. This means it may take three to four weeks after starting carbimazole treatment before the thyroid hormone levels begin to decrease. Some improvement is usually felt within one to three weeks. However, full beneficial effects usually take four to eight weeks.
Adverse reactions usually occur in the first eight weeks of treatment. The most frequently occurring reactions are nausea, headache, arthralgia, mild gastric distress, skin rashes and pruritus. These reactions are usually self-limiting and may not require withdrawal of the medicine. Blood and lymphatic system disorders. Bone marrow depression has been reported and can lead to agranulocytosis. Rare cases of pancytopenia/aplastic anaemia and isolated thrombocytopenia have also been reported. Additionally, very rare cases of haemolytic anaemia have been reported. Patients should always be instructed to recognise symptoms which may suggest bone marrow depression, to stop the medicine and to seek medical advice immediately. In such patients, blood cell counts should be performed, particularly where there is any clinical evidence of infection.
Symptoms
Carbimazole crosses the placenta but, provided the mother's dose is within the standard range, and her thyroid status is monitored, there is no evidence of neonatal thyroid abnormalities. Studies have shown that the incidence of congenital malformations is greater in the children of mothers whose hyperthyroidism has remained untreated than in those to whom treatment with carbimazole has been given.NeoMercazole is secreted in breast milk and, if treatment is continued during lactation, the patient should not continue to breast-feed her baby.
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datasheet/n/Neo-Mercazoletab.htm
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/displaydoc.asp?DocumentID=14594
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001813.html