Observations on 78 Thyrotoxic Patients Treated with Thiouracil

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thyro-toxicosis was treated with thiouracil in 10 [male] [male] and 68 [female] [female] having either diffusely hyperplastic or nodular goiters. Treatment extended over 0.5-16 mos. and was successfully withdrawn in 14 cases after 2.5-8 mos. of admn. Both types of goiter responded well to the drug. Avg. initial BMR dropped from 46% to 15% or less in 3 wks. and was accompanied by a rise in blood cholesterol. Maintenance dose for patients with an initial BMR above 30 was approx. 0.23 g. Influence on thyroid size was variable. Exophthalmos decreased in degree in 17 of 38 patients. Auricular fibrillation disappeared in 12 of 18 cases. Improvement in glucose tolerance was noted in 8 of 11 cases with pre-existing diabetes mellitus. Toxic reactions of marked severity were noted in 4 instances including 2 cases of agranulocytosis. The authors consider thiouracil a safe drug in the management of most cases of toxic goiter.