Which statement about Graves' disease is true?

Which statement about Graves' disease is true?

• A. TSH receptor antibodies stimulate thyroid hormone production.
• B. They suppress TSH receptor activity.
• C. They are never present in autoimmune thyroid disease.
• D. They cause hypoparathyroidism.

Answer: (A)

Graves' disease is driven by autoantibodies that bind the TSH receptor on thyroid cells and mimic TSH, turning on the receptor and boosting the production and release of thyroid hormones. This action causes high levels of T3 and T4 with a corresponding suppression of TSH via negative feedback. That’s why the statement about TSH receptor antibodies stimulating thyroid hormone production is true. These antibodies are a hallmark of Graves’, an autoimmune thyroid condition, and they do not suppress the receptor nor cause hypoparathyroidism.

Graves' disease is driven by autoantibodies that bind the TSH receptor on thyroid cells and mimic TSH, turning on the receptor and boosting the production and release of thyroid hormones. This action causes high levels of T3 and T4 with a corresponding suppression of TSH via negative feedback. That’s why the statement about TSH receptor antibodies stimulating thyroid hormone production is true. These antibodies are a hallmark of Graves’, an autoimmune thyroid condition, and they do not suppress the receptor nor cause hypoparathyroidism.