Graves' disease: Introduction, epidemiology, endogenous and environmental pathogenic factors

Graves' disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism. Many questions remain about the choice of diagnostic evaluations and treatment strategy according to clinical context (age, gender, pregnancy, etc.) and about the best management of the main extrathyroidal complication that is Graves orbitopathy. The exact pathogenic mechanisms are not fully clear. They associate genetic factors, interactions between endogenous and environmental factors, and immune system dysregulation. Graves' orbitopathy is one of the consequences of this partial understanding. Iatrogenic Graves' disease induced by the new targeted therapies are described and could help to better understand the molecular pathways involved in the disease and to develop new therapeutic approaches.