Graves Disease / Antibodies

[bruach31]

Hello,
Could someone please explain to me the antibody action involved in Graves disease and Graves Opthalmopathy , the involvement of the receptors, and how one might eventually progress to Hashimotos /underactive thyroid?. Thanks

[Dr Petros Perros]

Stimulatory antibodies to the TSH receptor drive the thyroid overactivity in Garves' disease. The same antibodies are usually raised in Graves ophthalmopathy and TSH receptors have been found in the tissues behind the eyes of patients with ophthalmopathy. It is suspected, though not yet proven, that the same antibodies may be involved in ophthalmopathy. Some patients with Graves disease eventually may develop an underactive thyroid either as a result of scarring and destruction of the thyroid by the autoimmune process, or because they develop blocking antibodies to the TSH receptor.