A 30-year-old female presents with weight loss, heat intolerance, and palpitations. She also reports frequent bowel movements and anxiety. On examination, her pulse rate is high, and there is a smooth goiter with a bruit. What could be the cause, and what are the next steps?
These symptoms suggest Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that leads to overproduction of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). The next steps would be to measure thyroid function tests, including TSH, free T4, and T3 levels. The presence of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) would confirm the diagnosis of Graves' disease. Treatment options include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery.