Early remission in thyrotoxicosis produced by short courses of treatment

Abstract

Abstract. Twenty-eight patients with Graves' disease were treated with short-term antithyroid drug therapy, i.e. treatment was discountinued as soon as they became euthyroid. This was less than 4 months in all patients. Ten patients remained euthyroid, although in two of these, thyrotoxicosis recurred after the patients had been euthyroid for more than 12 months. The other 18 patients relapsed within 12 weeks of stopping therapy, and only two have become euthyroid after a further 12 month period of treatment. All patients who remitted were thyrotoxic for the first time whereas all patients with a past history of thyroid disease relapsed. Positive thyroid microsomal antibody titres were more frequent in patients who remitted, otherwise there were no indicators of a favourable outcome. The remission rate with antithyroid therapy which is only continued until the patient becomes euthyroid is similar to that for treatment lasting 12–18 months. Short-term therapy has the advantage of savings in both patient and clinician time.