Lower extremity manifestations of Graves' disease.

Abstract

Pretibial myxedema (not to be confused with myxedema suggestive of hypothyroidism) is one of the extrathyroidal manifestations observed in some patients with Graves' disease. Graves' disease is commonly described as a disease that consists of one or more of the following characteristics: goiter, exophthalamos, acropachy, and pretibial myxedema. In order to facilitate a better understanding of the pathology and etiology of pretibial myxedema, a review of current research focusing on the immunological basis of Graves' disease is presented. An examination of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and differential diagnosis is also presented, as well as a case study that demonstrates Graves' disease and its extrathyroidal manifestations and complications.