Hormone & Metabolic Signs

Signs of hormone and metabolic disease: the tetany signs of low calcium, the many eye signs of thyroid eye disease, and the findings of thyroid over- and under-activity.

This page lists all 22 of them in the guide. Open any sign for how it is elicited, what it suggests, and its eponym story where it has one.

Sign	System	A positive finding is associated with
Abadie's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Berry's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Described as associated with malignant thyroid enlargement rather than a benign goitre.
Boston's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Chvostek's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with increased nerve excitability from low blood calcium (hypocalcaemia), though it can occur in some healthy people.
Dalrymple's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Erb's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with low blood calcium (tetany), as in hypoparathyroidism.
Fine hand tremor	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with an overactive thyroid (thyrotoxicosis), and also with anxiety, caffeine and some medicines.
Gifford's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Griffith's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Joffroy's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Kocher's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Lid lag	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with an overactive thyroid (thyrotoxicosis) and thyroid eye disease.
Möbius sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Pemberton's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with a large goitre or mass extending behind the sternum, compressing the veins at the thoracic inlet.
Queen Anne's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Traditionally associated with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Rosenbach's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease and hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease).
Stellwag's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Thyroid bruit	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with Graves' disease causing an overactive, over-vascular thyroid.
Trousseau's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with low blood calcium (hypocalcaemia) and increased neuromuscular excitability; more specific than Chvostek's sign.
Von Graefe's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with thyroid eye disease (Graves' ophthalmopathy).
Whipple's triad	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with true hypoglycaemia disorders, classically an insulin-secreting tumour (insulinoma).
Woltman's sign	Hormones & Metabolism	Associated with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.

Hormone & Metabolic Signs

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