[Recent developments in the etiology and diagnosis of Basedow's disease]

The etiology and diagnosis of Grave's disease are briefly reviewed with particular reference to newer discoveries in the wide range of immunoglobulins which might act as humoral stimulators of the thyroid. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism has been greatly facilitated by radioimmunologic determination of serum T4 and T3 and indirect estimation of T4 (T4 index). In this way 85-90% of cases can be diagnosed with a single blood sample. TRH tests and T3 suppression tests are only rarely required.