Gender-related differences in patients with Graves' disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the gender-related differences in patients with Graves'disease (GD).Methods Seven hundred and eighty-seven consecutive patients with GD treated with anti-thyroid drug in out-patient clinic of department of endocrinology of Chinese PLA general hospital from Oct.2009 to May 2010 were included in the study.The diagnosis of GD WSB made according to common clinical and laboratory criteria.Results (1)In Graves'disease,a marked female preponderance Was found.The female/male ratio was 3.35:1.Female patients with GD presented at a younger age,compared with males[(33.20±13.07 vs 36.75±13.89)year,P=0.002],and the peak incidences of the disease occurred in female and male were 20-29 years and 40-49 years of age respectively.(2)Male patients presented a higher prevalence of weight loss,thyrotoxic cardiopathy,periodic paralysis,and non-invasive ophthalmopathy whereas tachycardia was more common in females.(3)The females presented larger diffuse goiters with higher serum TT4,FT4,and thyrotropin receptor antibody(TRAb)levels.Cases with TRAb>30 U/L were more common in females,whereas those with TRAb 10-30 U/L were frequently seen in males.(4)There was no gender-related difference in the family history of GD.(5)Remission atleast 6 months after anti-thyroid drug therapy in 211 patients,there was a relapse rate of 64.3%(137/211)without gender difference.Conclusion GD appeared at a younger age and with larger diffuse goiters in females,together with more marked elevation of serum TT4,FT4 and TRAb levels.Altogether,these findings depict different patterns for GD in males and females. Key words: Graves'disease; Clinical features; Gender; Prognosis