Which statement about Graves disease is true?

Which statement about Graves disease is true?

• A. Decreased thyroid hormone production leading to weight gain
• B. Low heart rate and cold intolerance
• C. Enlarged thyroid gland and excessive thyroid hormone secretion; bounding rapid pulse is expected
• D. Hypercalcemia and kidney stones

Answer: (C)

Graves disease is an autoimmune process that causes hyperthyroidism, with the thyroid being overactivated to produce excess thyroid hormones. This leads to an increased metabolic rate and several characteristic signs, including a goiter from thyroid growth and a faster, stronger heartbeat due to the body’s tissues responding to high thyroid hormone levels. The statement describing an enlarged thyroid gland with excessive thyroid hormone secretion and a bounding rapid pulse captures this combination of gland enlargement and heightened metabolic activity, which is what Graves disease produces. The other scenarios don’t fit Graves disease: decreased thyroid hormone production with weight gain describes hypothyroidism, as does a low heart rate with cold intolerance. Hypercalcemia and kidney stones point to disorders of calcium metabolism, not thyroid overactivity.

Graves disease is an autoimmune process that causes hyperthyroidism, with the thyroid being overactivated to produce excess thyroid hormones. This leads to an increased metabolic rate and several characteristic signs, including a goiter from thyroid growth and a faster, stronger heartbeat due to the body’s tissues responding to high thyroid hormone levels. The statement describing an enlarged thyroid gland with excessive thyroid hormone secretion and a bounding rapid pulse captures this combination of gland enlargement and heightened metabolic activity, which is what Graves disease produces.

The other scenarios don’t fit Graves disease: decreased thyroid hormone production with weight gain describes hypothyroidism, as does a low heart rate with cold intolerance. Hypercalcemia and kidney stones point to disorders of calcium metabolism, not thyroid overactivity.