Thyrotoxicosis treatment with lithium corbanate. Cases reported

Abstract

Treatment of thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves’ disease or multinodular toxic goiter, is not difficult, in most cases, since the prescription of thionamides allows to normalize the level of thyroid hormones quickly and safety. But in a number of cases this therapy might be associated with serious side effects (agranulocytosis, toxic hepatitis, cholestasis), severe allergic reactions and also individual intolerance on thionamides. In such cases lithium carbonate is used, especially in severe thyrotoxic syndrome. It is known, that lithium can accumulate in the thyroid gland at a concentration 3–4 times higher than in the plasma. Perhaps, lithium uses Na+/I- ions. It can inhibit the synthesis and secretion thyroid hormones of thyroid gland. The article presents the cases reported the use of lithium carbonate in thyrotoxicosis treatment before thyroidectomy. Administering low doses of carbonate lithium (900 mg/ per day) renders significant decrease or normalization of thyroid hormones concentration within 7–14 days, thus it let perform thyroidectomy on the patients. No side effects have been identified with such a short course of lithium carbonate treatment.