Graves

Graves, Alfred Percival, 1846-1931, Irish poet. An inspector of schools, he was also twice president of the Irish literary society. He compiled several volumes of Irish music and folksongs. Included among his own writings are Irish Songs and Ballads (1880) and Father O'Flynn (1889).

Graves, Frank Pierrepont, 1869-1956, American educator, b. Brooklyn, N.Y., grad. Columbia (B.A., 1890; Ph.D., 1912). He taught Greek and classical philology at Tufts College (1891-96), was president of the Univ. of Wyoming (1896-98) and of the Univ. of Washington (1898-1903), and later served as professor of education and dean at the Univ. of Missouri, Ohio State Univ., and the Univ. of Pennsylvania. From 1921 until his retirement in 1940 he was commissioner of education and president of the Univ. of the State of New York. He wrote several works on both the Greek language and the history of education, as well as three volumes of addresses and papers.

Graves, Michael, 1934-, American architect, b. Indianapolis, Ind., educated at the Univ. of Cincinnati and Harvard. Graves was a member of the New York "Five" or "white" modernist architects during the 1960s, the other four being Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman, Charles Gwathmey, and John Hejduk. In the 1970s, Graves emerged as a leading proponent of the American postmodernist style. His completed projects include the Portland Building in Portland, Oreg.; the Swan and Dolphin Hotels in Walt Disney World, Fla.; the Walt Disney Company Corporate Headquarters in Burbank, Calif.; the Newark Museum in Newark, N.J.; the Emory Univ. Museum of Art and Architecture in Atlanta, Ga.; the expansion of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City; and the Central Library in Denver. Graves is also known for his design of furniture, furnishings, and artifacts.

Graves, Robert Ranke, 1895-1985, English poet, novelist, and critic; son of Alfred Percival Graves. He established his reputation with Good-bye to All That (1929), an outspoken book on his war experiences. A versatile and highly prolific writer, Graves considered himself primarily a poet; his poems were characterized by gracefulness and lucidity. However, Graves was best known for his unorthodox novels of Roman history, I, Claudius (1934) and Claudius the God (1934), as well as fictionalized reappraisals of history and legend such as King Jesus (1946) and Homer's Daughter (1955). Graves was also known for studies of the mythological and psychological sources of poetry, such as The White Goddess (1947), Greek Myths (2 vol., 1955), and Hebrew Myths (1963). Other works of criticism include The Common Asphodel (1949), Poetic Craft and Principle (1967), On Poetry: Collected Talks and Essays (1969), and translations of The Golden Ass of Apuleius and the Iliad. From 1961 until 1966 he was professor of poetry at Oxford.

Graves, Thomas Graves, Baron, 1725?-1802, British admiral. During the American Revolution his fleet was routed (1781) by the comte de Grasse at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, a defeat that led directly to Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown (see Yorktown campaign). In the French Revolutionary Wars, Graves was second in command to Admiral Richard Howe in the victory over the French in 1794 and was subsequently raised to the peerage.

Graves, William Sidney, 1865-1940, American army officer, b. Hill co., Tex., grad. West Point, 1889. He served (1899-1901) in the Philippines and commanded (1918-20) American forces in Siberia. Graves wrote America's Siberian Adventures (1931, repr. 1971).

(born Feb. 25, 1752, Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, Eng.—died Oct. 26, 1806, Exeter, Devonshire) British soldier and colonial administrator in Canada. He served in the American Revolution as commander of the Queen's Rangers (1777–79). He was taken prisoner (1779) but later released (1781) and invalided back to England. After the Constitutional Act was passed, he served as the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1792 to 1796. He encouraged immigration and agriculture and supported defense and road building.

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(born July 9, 1934, Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.) U.S. architect and designer. He studied at Harvard University and in 1962 began a long teaching career at Princeton University while designing private houses in the abstract and austere style of orthodox Modernism. In the late 1970s he rejected Modernist expression and began seeking a larger, postmodernist vocabulary. The hulking masses of the Portland Building in Portland, Ore. (1980), and the Humana Building in Louisville, Ky. (1982), display his highly personal, Cubist rendering of such Classical elements as colonnades and loggias. Though considered somewhat awkward, these and his later buildings (e.g., Indianapolis Art Center, 1996) have been acclaimed for their ironic interpretation of traditional forms. Among his later projects were the restoration of the Washington Monument (2000) and the creation of a line of household items, including kitchenware and furniture, for the discount retailer Target.

Learn more about Graves, Michael with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born Feb. 25, 1752, Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, Eng.—died Oct. 26, 1806, Exeter, Devonshire) British soldier and colonial administrator in Canada. He served in the American Revolution as commander of the Queen's Rangers (1777–79). He was taken prisoner (1779) but later released (1781) and invalided back to England. After the Constitutional Act was passed, he served as the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1792 to 1796. He encouraged immigration and agriculture and supported defense and road building.

Learn more about Simcoe, John Graves with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born July 9, 1934, Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.) U.S. architect and designer. He studied at Harvard University and in 1962 began a long teaching career at Princeton University while designing private houses in the abstract and austere style of orthodox Modernism. In the late 1970s he rejected Modernist expression and began seeking a larger, postmodernist vocabulary. The hulking masses of the Portland Building in Portland, Ore. (1980), and the Humana Building in Louisville, Ky. (1982), display his highly personal, Cubist rendering of such Classical elements as colonnades and loggias. Though considered somewhat awkward, these and his later buildings (e.g., Indianapolis Art Center, 1996) have been acclaimed for their ironic interpretation of traditional forms. Among his later projects were the restoration of the Washington Monument (2000) and the creation of a line of household items, including kitchenware and furniture, for the discount retailer Target.

Learn more about Graves, Michael with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Graves' disease is a thyroid disorder characterized by goiter, exophthalmos, "orange-peel" skin, and hyperthyroidism. It is caused by an antibody-mediated auto-immune reaction, but the trigger for this reaction is still unknown. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the world, and the most common cause of general thyroid enlargement in developed countries.

In some parts of Europe the term Basedow’s disease or Graves-Basedow disease is preferred to Graves' disease.

History

Graves' disease owes its name to the Irish doctor Robert James Graves , who described a case of goiter with exophthalmos in 1835. However, the German Karl Adolph von Basedow independently reported the same constellation of symptoms in 1840. As a result, on the European Continent the term Basedow's disease is more common than Graves' disease.

Several earlier reports exist but were not widely circulated. For example, cases of goiter with exophthalmos were published by the Italians Giuseppe Flajina and Antonio Giuseppe Testa, in 1802 and 1810 respectively. Prior to these, Caleb Hillier Parry, a notable provincial physician in England of the late 18th-century (and a friend of Edward Miller-Gallus), described a case in 1786. This case was not published until 1825, but still ten years ahead of Graves.

However, fair credit for the first description of Graves' disease goes to the 12th-century Persian physician Sayyid Ismail Al-Jurjani, who noted the association of goiter and exophthalmos in his Thesaurus of the Shah of Khwarazm, the major medical dictionary of its time.

Diagnosis

Graves' disease may present clinically with one of the following characteristic signs:

• exophthalmos (protuberance of one or both eyes)
• a non-pitting edema (pretibial myxedema) with thickening of the skin usually found on the lower extremities
• fatigue, weight loss with increased appetite, and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism
• rapid heart beats
• muscular weakness

The two signs that are truly diagnostic of Graves' disease (i.e. not seen in other hyperthyroid conditions) are exophthalmos and non-pitting edema (pretibial myxedema). Goiter which is an enlarged thyroid gland and is of the diffuse type (i.e., spread throughout the gland). Diffuse goiter may be seen with other causes of hyperthyroidism, although Graves' disease is the most common cause of diffuse goiter. A large goiter will be visible to the naked eye, but a smaller goiter (very mild endlargement of the gland) may be detectable only by physical exam. Occasionally, goiter is not clinically detectable, but may be seen only with CT or ultrasound examination of the thyroid.

Another sign of Graves' disease is hyperthyroidism, i.e. over-production of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Normothyroidism is also seen, and occasionally also hypothyroidism, which may assist in causing goiter (though it is not the cause of the Graves disease). Hyperthyroidism in Graves disease is confirmed as with any other cause of hyperthyroidism, by measuring elevated blood levels of free (unbound) T3 and T4.

Other useful laboratory measurements in Graves disease include thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, usually low in Graves' disease due to negative feedback from the elevated T3 and T4), and protein-bound iodine (elevated). Thyroid-stimulating antibodies may also be detected serologically.

Biopsy to obtain histiological testing is not normally required, but may be obtained if thyroidectomy is performed.

Differentiating two common forms of hyperthyroidism such as Graves disease and Toxic multinodular goiter is important to determine proper treatment. Measuring TSH-receptor antibodies with the h-TBII assay has been proven efficient and was the most practical approach found in one study.

Eye disease

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy is one of the most typical symptoms of Graves' disease. It is known by a variety of terms, the most common being Graves' ophthalmopathy. Thyroid eye disease is an inflammatory condition which affects the orbital contents including the extraocular muscles and orbital fat. It is almost always associated with Graves' disease but may rarely be seen in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, primary hypothyroidism, or thyroid cancer.

The ocular manifestations that are relatively specific to Grave's disease include soft tissue inflammation, proptosis (protrusion of one or both globes of the eyes), corneal exposure, and optic nerve compression. Also seen, if the patient is hyperthyroid, (i.e., has too much thryoid hormone) are more general manifestations which are due to hyperthyroidism itself and which may be seen in any conditions which cause hyperthyroidism (such as toxic multinodular goiter or even thryoid poisoning). These more general symptoms include lid retraction, lid lag, and a delay in the downward excursion of the upper eyelid, during downward gaze.

Treatment specific to eye problems

• For mild disease - artificial tears, steroids (to reduce chemosis)
• For moderate disease - lateral tarsorrhaphy
• For severe disease - orbital decompression or retro-orbital radiation

Other Graves' disease symptoms

Some of the most typical symptoms of Graves' Disease may include the following:

• Palpitations
• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate: 100-120 beats per minute, or higher)
• Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)
• Raised blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Tremor (usually fine shaking e.g. hands)
• Excessive sweating
• Heat intolerance
• Increased appetite
• Unexplained weight loss despite increased appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle weakness (especially in the large muscles of the arms and legs) and degeneration
• Diminished/changed sex drive
• Insomnia (inability to get enough sleep)

• Increased energy
• Fatigue
• Mental impairment, memory lapses, diminished attention span
• Decreased concentration
• Nervousness, agitation
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Erratic behavior
• Emotional lability
• Brittle nails
• Abnormal breast enlargement
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
• Protruding eyeballs
• Double vision

• Eye pain, irritation, tingling sensation behind the eyes or the feeling of grit or sand in the eyes
• Swelling or redness of eyes or eyelids/eyelid retraction
• Sensitivity to light
• Decrease in menstrual periods (oligomenorrhea), Irregular and scant menstrual flow (Amenorrhea)
• Difficulty conceiving/infertility/recurrent miscarriage
• Hair loss
• Itchy skin, hives
• Chronic sinus infections
• Lumpy, reddish skin of the lower legs (pretibial myxedema)
• Increased bowel movements or Diarrhea
• Sometimes dizziness occurs

Incidence and epidemiology

The disease occurs most frequently in women (7:1 compared to men). It occurs most often in middle age (most commonly in the third to fifth decades of life), but is not uncommon in adolescents, during pregnancy, at the time of menopausal, and in people over age 50. There is a marked family preponderance, which has led to speculation that there may be a genetic component. To date, no clear genetic defect has been found that would point at a monogenic cause.

Pathophysiology

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body produces antibodies to the receptor for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). (Antibodies to thyroglobulin and to the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 may also be produced.) These antibodies cause hyperthyroidism because they bind to the TSH receptor and chronically stimulate it. The TSH receptor is expressed on the follicular cells of the thyroid gland (the cells that produce thyroid hormone), and the result of chronic stimulation is an abnormally high production of T3 and T4. This in turn causes the clinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and the enlargement of the thyroid gland visible as goiter.

The infiltrative exophthalmos that is frequently encountered has been explained by postulating that the thyroid gland and the extraocular muscles share a common antigen which is recognized by the antibodies. Antibodies binding to the extraocular muscles would cause swelling behind the eyeball.

The "orange peel" skin has been explained by the infiltration of antibodies under the skin, causing an inflammatory reaction and subsequent fibrous plaques.

There are 3 types of autoantibodies to the TSH receptor currently recognized:

• TSI, Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins: these antibodies (mainly IgG) act as LATS (Long Acting Thyroid Stimulants), activating the cells in a longer and slower way than TSH, leading to an elevated production of thyroid hormone.
• TGI, Thyroid growth immunoglobulins: these antibodies bind directly to the TSH receptor and have been implicated in the growth of thyroid follicles.
• TBII, Thyrotrophin Binding-Inhibiting Immunoglobulins: these antibodies inhibit the normal union of TSH with its receptor. Some will actually act as if TSH itself is binding to its receptor, thus inducing thyroid function. Other types may not stimulate the thyroid gland, but will prevent TSI and TSH from binding to and stimulating the receptor.

Etiology

The trigger for auto-antibody production is not known. There appears to be a genetic predisposition for Graves' disease, suggesting that some people are more prone than others to develop TSH receptor activating antibodies due to a genetic cause. HLA DR (especially DR3) appears to play a significant role.

Since Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease which appears suddenly, often quite late in life, it is thought that a viral or bacterial infection may trigger antibodies which cross-react with the human TSH receptor (a phenomenon known as antigenic mimicry, also seen in some cases of type I diabetes).

One possible culprit is the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica (a cousin of Yersinia pestis, the agent of bubonic plague). However, although there is indirect evidence for the structural similarity between the bacteria and the human thyrotropin receptor, direct causative evidence is limited. Yersinia seems not to be a major cause of this disease, although it may contribute to the development of thyroid autoimmunity arising for other reasons in genetically susceptible individuals. It has also been suggested that Y. enterocolitica infection is not the cause of auto-immune thyroid disease, but rather is only an associated condition; with both having a shared inherited susceptibility. More recently the role for Y. enterocolitica has been disputed.

The ocular manifestations of Graves' disease are more common in smokers and tend to worsen (or develop for the first time) following radioiodine treatment of the thyroid condition. Thus, they are not caused by hyperthyroidism per se. This common misperception may result from the fact that hyperthyroidism from other causes may cause eyelid retraction or eyelid lag (so-called hyperthyroid stare), which can be confused with the general appearance of proptosis or exophthalmos, despite the fact that the globes do not actually protrude in other causes of hyperthyroidism. Also, both conditions (globe protrusion and hyperthyroid lid retraction) may exist at the same time in the hyperthyroid patient with Graves' disease.

Treatment

Treatment of Graves' disease includes antithyroid drugs which reduce the production of thyroid hormone, radioiodine (radioactive iodine I-131), and thyroidectomy (surgical excision of the gland). As operating on a frankly hyperthyroid patient is dangerous, prior to thyroidectomy preoperative treatment with antithyroid drugs is given to render the patient "euthyroid" (i.e. normothyroid).

Treatment with antithyroid medications must be given for six months to two years, in order to be effective. Even then, upon cessation of the drugs, the hyperthyroid state may recur. Side effects of the antithyroid medications include a potentially fatal reduction in the level of white blood cells. The development and widespread adoption of radioiodine treatment has led to a progressive reduction in the use of surgical thyroidectomy for this problem. In general, RAI therapy is effective, less expensive, and avoids the small but definite risks of surgery.,

Therapy with radioiodine is the most common treatment in the United States, whilst antithyroid drugs and/or thyroidectomy is used more often in Europe, Japan, and most of the rest of the world.

Antithyroid drugs

The main antithyroid drugs are carbimazole (UK), methimazole (US), and propylthiouracil (PTU). These drugs block the binding of iodine and coupling of iodotyrosines. The most dangerous side-effect is agranulocytosis (1/250, more in PTU); this is an idiosyncratic reaction which does not stop on cessation of drug. Others include granulocytopenia (dose dependent, which improves on cessation of the drug) and aplastic anemia. Patients on these medications should see a doctor if they develop sore throat or fever. The most common side effects are rash and peripheral neuritis. These drugs also cross the placenta and are secreted in breast milk. Lygole is used to block hormone synthesis before surgery.,

A randomized control trial testing single dose treatment for Graves found methimazole achieved euthyroid state more effectively after 12 weeks that did propylthyouracil (77.1% on methimazole 15 mg vs 19.4% in the propylthiouracil 150 mg groups).

A study has shown no difference in outcome for adding thyroxine to antithyroid medication and continuing thyroxine versus placebo after antithyroid medication withdrawal. However two markers were found that can help predict the risk of recurrence. These two markers are a positive Thyroid Stimulating Hormone receptor antibody (TSHR-Ab) and smoking. A positive TSHR-Ab at the end of antithyroid drug treatment increases the risk of recurrence to 90% (sensitivity 39%, specificity 98%), a negative TSHR-Ab at the end of antithyroid drug treatment is associated with a 78% chance of remaining in remission. Smoking was shown to have an impact independent to a positive TSHR-Ab.

Radioiodine

Radioiodine (radioactive iodine I-131) was developed in the early 1940s at the Mallinckrodt General Clinical Research Center. This modality is suitable for most patients, although some prefer to use it mainly for older patients. Indications for radioiodine are: failed medical therapy or surgery and where medical or surgical therapy are contraindicated. Hypothyroidism may be a complication of this therapy, but is easily treated with thyroid hormones if it appears. Patients who receive the therapy are monitored regularly with thryoid blood tests to ensure that they are treated with thryoid hormone before they become symptomatically hypothyroid.

Contraindications to RAI are pregnancy (absolute), ophthalmopathy (relative; it can aggravate thyroid eye disease), solitary nodules.

Disadvantages of this treatment are a high incidence of hypothyroidism (up to 80%) requiring eventual thyroid hormone supplementation in the form of a daily pill. The radio-iodine treatment acts slowly (over months to years) to destroy the thyroid gland, and Graves disease-associated hyperthyroidism is not cured in all persons by radioiodine, but has a relapse rate that depends on the dose of radioiodine which is administered.

Surgery

This modality is suitable for young patients and pregnant patients. Indications are: a large goiter (especially when compressing the trachea), suspicious nodules or suspected cancer (to pathologically examine the thyroid) and patients with ophthalmopathy.

Both bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and the Hartley-Dunhill procedure (hemithyroidectomy on 1 side and partial lobectomy on other side) are possible.

Advantages are: immediate cure and potential removal of carcinoma. Its risks are injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, hypoparathyroidism (due to removal of the parathyroid glands), hematoma (which can be life-threatening if it compresses the trachea) and scarring.

No treatment

If left untreated, more serious complications could result, including birth defects in pregnancy, increased risk of a miscarriage, and in extreme cases, death. Graves-Basedow disease is often accompanied by an increase in heart rate, which may lead to further heart complications including loss of the normal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), which may lead to stroke. If the eyes are proptotic (bulging) severely enough that the lids do not close completely at night, severe dryness will occur with a very high risk of a secondary corneal infection which could lead to blindness. Pressure on the optic nerve behind the globe can lead to visual field defects and vision loss as well.

Alternative treatments

Graves Disease can not be cured with alternative methods but alternative medicine can help reduce symptoms of hyperthyroidism and Thyroid Eye Disease . As with all auto immune diseases it is vital to reduce stress. In general tai chi, mediation, and yoga have yielded good results in reducing stress. If patients can reduce their level of stress successfully the autoimmune activity can be reduced as a result. Alternative medicine and herbal remedies include: Omega 3 oil which is found in flax seed oil seems to reduce the feeling of pressure behind the eyes. Bugleweed (lycopus), lemon balm(Melissa) and Valeriana are also noted as helpful. Valeriana and Crataegus monogyna can also help patients to stop taking β-blockers sooner. Food: In general one should avoid caffeine, black tea and white sugars.

Symptomatic treatment

β-blockers (such as propranolol) may be used to inhibit the sympathetic nervous system symptoms of tachycardia and nausea until such time as antithyroid treatments start to take effect.

Noted sufferers

• United States President George H. W. Bush developed new atrial fibrillation and was diagnosed in 1991 with hyperthyroidism due to the disease and was treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with radioactive iodine. By coincidence (or so it is presumed, since the ultimate cause of this disease remains unknown), the president's wife, Barbara Bush, and the Bushes' pet dog, a springer spaniel named Millie, also developed the disease about the same time, which in Barbara's case produced severe infiltrative exophthalmos and a cosmetic change in the appearance of her eyes.
• Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley announced in the House of Commons that she was suffering from the disease. She now wears sunglasses to protect her eyes from the bright lighting and from sunlight.
• Nadezhda Krupskaya (1869-1939), wife of Vladimir Lenin, was believed to have suffered from the disease, which caused her eyes to bulge and her neck to tighten. This was the reason that her Bolshevik codename was 'Fish.' Since Graves' disease disrupts the menstrual cycle, it is believed that this is why the couple never had children.
• Bobby Engram, NFL wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks (diagnosed October 2006).
• German folk singer and musician Heino, who has since become famous for his wearing of dark sunglasses to protect his eyes from bright sunlight.
• English composer Herbert Howells was diagnosed with the disease in 1915 and given six months to live but made a recovery after undergoing experimental radium treatment and went on to live to the age of ninety.
• British actress Maggie Smith came down with the disease but recovered swiftly due to close help from her son.
• 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte was diagnosed with the disease in 1995.
• 3 Time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday
• Marty Feldman, English writer, comedian and film and television actor. The illness affected the appearance of his eyes, which bulged noticeably.
• Christina Rossetti, English poet, was diagnosed in 1893 and died a year later. Whether or not the death and disease is connected has been left undetermined.
• Second President of the United States, John Adams, is believed to have suffered from Graves' disease. This may have accounted for his irritability and erratic habits and writings.
• Olympian runner Gail Devers was diagnosed in 1988.
• Japanese voice actress Yuko Miyamura (most famous for her role voicing Evangelion Pilot Asuka Langley Soryu) was diagnosed in 2007 after suffering exophthalmos.
• Toni Childs, American songwriter and singer, was forced to take a hiatus from recording for years due to her affliction with Graves' disease. She claims to now be cured of her disease, through non-traditional treatments.
• Mary Webb, English novelist, developed the disease at the age of 20. Affected throughout the rest of her life, developed both goitre and protruding eyes, the disease eventually led to her early death at the age of 46.
• Salavtore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, former American mafioso, former underboss of the Gambino organized crime family, government informant, drug dealer, currently serving 20 years in the Supermax ADX Florence prison in Florence, Colorado.
• Martin Krugman a.k.a. "Marty," an associate of the Lucchese crime family and the basis for the character "Morrie Kessler" in the movie Goodfellas, suffered from Graves' disease.

References

See also

• Graves' ophthalmopathy
• Levothyroxine (Synthroid)

External links