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Diagnosis of Graves' Disease
Differential Diagnosis of Graves' Disease
There are several medical conditions that can mimic the symptoms of Graves' disease (GD) and must be considered before a definitive diagnosis is established:
- Anxiety
- Menopause
- Pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland that causes overproduction of adrenaline)
- Drug abuse or withdrawal (especially amphetamines)
- Myopathies (any abnormal condition of the muscular tissue)
- Ingestion of thyroid hormones
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)
- Non Graves' disease causes of hyperthyroidism (e.g., subacute or viral thyroiditis)
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - An autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland. Symptoms in common with Graves' disease include enlarged thyroid gland and presence of thyroid-peroxidase antibodies.
