PubMed2004
OBJECTIVE: To try to select the best treatment among synthetic anti-thyroid agents, surgery and radioiodine in the case of Graves' disease. METHOD: We present a retrospective study of therapeutic and progressive aspects of 300 cases of Graves' disease. RESULTS: At the time of the diagnosis, the patients' mean age was of 38.17 years. Female sex predominated (70.7%). Medical treatment was prescribed in 25.7% of cases. Agranulocytosis occurred in one patient who died from septic shock. Surgery was performed in 29.3% of patients and 41% were treated with radioactive iodine. After a mean follow-up of 53.7 months, a progression towards euthyroidism was noted in 60, 22.7 and 21.7% of patients treated respectively with antithyroid drugs, surgery and radioiodine. Hypothyroidism was noted in around 40% of cases, 57.8% of which were treated surgically. Recurrent hyperthyroidism is more frequent with antithyroid drugs. CONCLUSION: Medical treatment increases the risk of relapse. It is therefore preferable to apply radical treatments in order to obtain permanent remission from hyperthyroidism.