Graves' & Thyroid Disease National Patient Conference Set for San...( BUFFALO N.Y. Sept. 15 -- Nancy P...),Health

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nancy Patterson Ph.D., Chair of the Graves' Disease Foundation announced it will hold its 2008 national Patient & Family Conference on October 17-19 at the Sheraton Resort in Carlsbad, California. The meeting is open to all patients and family members with Graves' disease or other thyroid gland disorders.

The leading cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease represents a basic defect in the immune system, causing production of immunoglobulins (antibodies), which stimulate and attack the thyroid gland, causing growth of the gland and overproduction of thyroid hormone. Similar antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscles and in the pretibial skin (the skin on the front of the lower leg). Graves' Disease affects two out of every 100 women but less common in men.

The Conference will focus on Graves' disease symptoms & treatment, hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism, thyroid-related eye conditions; and an update on the latest Graves' disease research. Also workshops on the emotional and psychological impact of Graves' disease. You'll meet other patients coping with Graves' and thyroid-related illnesses.

Dr. Terry Smith, who is Chief Medical & Scientific Officer of the Graves' Disease Foundation and Professor of Medicine, at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center & The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; is Conference Chair for this year's meeting.

Dr. Smith announced the following keynote physicians and renowned experts will speak at the Conference:

Raymond Douglas, MD

Jules Stein Eye Institute

Michael Kazim, MD

Columbia University, NY

Don O. Kikkawa, MD

Shiley Eye Center, La Jolla, CA.

Ira Lesser, MD

Harbor-UCLA Medical Ctr.

Some thyroid topics will be:

-- The Scientific basis for Graves' disease: how little we really know!

-- Medical & surgical approaches to hyperthyroidism

-- Modern approaches to do
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