Pentad of Graves' disease

Q: What is the pentad of Graves' disease?

Answer: A full-blown ideal Graves' disease usually consists of five features:

1. Hyperthyroidism
2. Goiter
3. Oorbitopathy
4. Dermopathy
5. Tachycardia

Other features may also be present, including heat intolerance, tremor, palpitations, anxiety, weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite, increased bowel frequency, and shortness of breath. Skin exam may have some remarkable and striking onycholysis, softening of the nails, hyperpigmentation, pruritus and hives, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and thinning of the hair.

A large number of patients may not have all of these features overtly. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory work-up.

Graves' disease, by definition, is an autoimmune disease. It is caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) receptor antibodies (TRAb) that activate the receptor, thereby stimulating thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion, as well as thyroid growth (diffuse goiter).

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References:

1. Toro-Tobon D, Stan MN. Graves’ Disease and the Manifestations of Thyrotoxicosis. [Updated 2024 Sep 24]. In: Feingold KR, Adler RA, Ahmed SF, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285567/

2. Lee SY, Pearce EN. Hyperthyroidism: A Review. JAMA. 2023 Oct 17;330(15):1472-1483. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.19052. PMID: 37847271; PMCID: PMC10873132.

3. Davies TF, Andersen S, Latif R, Nagayama Y, Barbesino G, Brito M, Eckstein AK, Stagnaro-Green A, Kahaly GJ. Graves' disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Jul 2;6(1):52. doi: 10.1038/s41572-020-0184-y. PMID: 32616746.