Antithyroid agent

Abstract: Importance Graves disease is the most common cause of persistent hyperthyroidism in adults. Approximately 3% of women and 0.5% of men will develop Graves disease during their lifetime. Observations We searched PubMed and the Cochrane database for English-language studies published from June 2000 through October 5, 2015. Thirteen randomized clinical trials, 5 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and 52 observational studies were included in this review. Patients with Graves disease may be treated with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine (RAI), or surgery (near-total thyroidectomy). The optimal approach depends on patient preference, geography, and clinical factors. A 12- to 18-month course of antithyroid drugs may lead to a remission in approximately 50% of patients but can cause potentially significant (albeit rare) adverse reactions, including agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity. Adverse reactions typically occur within the first 90 days of therapy. Treating Graves disease with RAI and surgery result in gland destruction or removal, necessitating life-long levothyroxine replacement. Use of RAI has also been associated with the development or worsening of thyroid eye disease in approximately 15% to 20% of patients. Surgery is favored in patients with concomitant suspicious or malignant thyroid nodules, coexisting hyperparathyroidism, and in patients with large goiters or moderate to severe thyroid eye disease who cannot be treated using antithyroid drugs. However, surgery is associated with potential complications such as hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord paralysis in a small proportion of patients. In pregnancy, antithyroid drugs are the primary therapy, but some women with Graves disease opt to receive definitive therapy with RAI or surgery prior to becoming pregnant to avoid potential teratogenic effects of antithyroid drugs during pregnancy. Conclusions and Relevance Management of Graves disease includes treatment with antithyroid drugs, RAI, or thyroidectomy. The optimal approach depends on patient preference and specific patient clinical features such as age, history of arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease, size of goiter, and severity of thyrotoxicosis. Physicians should be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy to best counsel their patients.

Abstract: To analyze the benefits and risks of three common treatments, we randomly assigned 179 patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism as follows: 60 patients, 20-34 yr of age (young adults), received antithyroid drugs for 18 months (medical) or subtotal thyroidectomy (surgical), and 119 patients, 35-55 yr of age (old adults), received medical, surgical, or radioiodine (iodine-131) treatment. The follow-up time was at least 48 months. Antithyroid drugs, surgery, or iodine-131 treatment normalized the mean serum hormone levels within 6 weeks. The risk of relapse was highest in the medically treated young and old adults (42% vs. 34%), followed by that in those treated with iodine-131 (21%) and that in the surgically treated young and old adults (3% vs 8%), respectively. Elevated TSH receptor antibodies at the end of medical therapy or increasing TSH receptor antibodies values after medical or surgical treatment increased the probability of relapse. Development or worsening of ophthalmopathy was not associated with relapse per se. Ninety percent of the subjects in all groups were satisfied with the treatment they received. No significant difference in sick-leave due to Graves' or other diseases was seen during the first 2 yr after initiation of therapy. The increased risk of ophthalmopathy in patients with high serum T3 levels, especially when treated with iodine-131, and the relatively high frequency of relapse after treatment with antithyroid drugs are important factors to consider when selecting therapy for Graves' disease.

Abstract: Context: Although methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) have long been used to treat hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease (GD), there is still no clear conclusion about the choice of drug or appropriate initial doses. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the MMI 30 mg/d treatment with the PTU 300 mg/d and MMI 15 mg/d treatment in terms of efficacy and adverse reactions. Design, Setting, and Participants: Patients newly diagnosed with GD were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment regimens in a prospective study at four Japanese hospitals. Main Outcome Measures: Percentages of patients with normal serum free T4 (FT4) or free T3 (FT3) and frequency of adverse effects were measured at 4, 8, and 12 wk. Results: MMI 30 mg/d normalized FT4 in more patients than PTU 300 mg/d and MMI 15 mg/d for the whole group (240 patients) at 12 wk (96.5 vs. 78.3%; P = 0.001; and 86.2%, P = 0.023, respectively). When patients were divided into two groups by initial FT4, in the group of the patien...