Diffuse Toxic Goiter

Diffuse toxic goiter (synonyms: Graves' disease, Basedow's disease, hyperthyroidism, Perry's disease, Flajani disease) is an autoimmune disease caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones by diffuse thyroid tissue, which leads to poisoning with these hormones - thyrotoxicosis. The disease is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies that bind to thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors (TSH-R) located on the surface of thyroid cells. As a result of stimulation of the receptors, there is increased production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which leads to the development of symptoms of hyperthyroidism. It is more often observed in women.