Genetic Correlates and Pathophysiology of Hyperthyroidism: An Overview of salient aspects
Introduction
Disturbances in thyroid haemostasis can occur at the level of the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland itself or in the periphery. By definition, hyperthyroidism refers to disorders in which the principal abnormality is the overproduction of thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland. (Elston & Conaglen, 2005) This overproduction can have diverse determinants including auto-immunity, hereditary factors, familial predisposition, and perhaps, some other less understood factors. Regardless of etiology, the result is an increase in transcription in cellular proteins, causing an increase in the basal metabolic rate. The predominant cause of hyperthyroidism is Grave’s disease. Other less common ...