THE EFFECT OF RADIOIODINE AND ANTITHYROID DRUGS ON SERUM LONG ACTING THYROID STIMULATOR PROTECTOR (LATS‐P). A THREE YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

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Abstract
Over a 3 yr period the effect of either a 1 yr course of carbimazole or a single dose of radioiodine was studied in a group of 46 patients with Graves'' disease. Initially, in untreated patients LATS-P [long-acting thyroid stimulator protector] was present in 39 (85%) but at the end of the study was only detectable in 19 (41%). The clinical outcome in 29 patients initially treated with carbimazole correlated well with changes in serum LATS-P which persisted in 18. Thirteen of these ultimately required radioiodine or sub-total thyroidectomy. With radioiodine 2 patterns of response were seen; in some LATS-P levels declined, while in others transient increases were seen usually during the 1st yr but subsequently fell. There was no differece in clinical response between the 2 groups. Serum LATS-P is related to the clinical course of Graves'' disease but there remains a minority of patients in whom the activity cannot be detected.