Graves diseaseis the most common cause of an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
The condition is thought to be sparked by genetic, environmental, and other factors.
Learn more about the causes and risk factors of Graves disease.
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When a person has Graves disease, the immune system produces anabnormal antibodyknown as thyroid-stimulatingimmunoglobulin(TSI).
TSI stimulates the thyroid gland by mimicking thethyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) produced in thepituitary gland.
Thethyroid glandthen produces excess thyroid hormone, leading to hyperthyroidism.
A combination of genetic and environmental risk factors is believed to cause Graves disease.
Certain lifestyle habits also contribute to the development of the disease.
These include HLA, CD25, CD40, CTLA-4, and FOXP3.
Not everyone genetically predisposed to Graves disease will be affected by the condition.
A combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to the development of Graves disease.
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