Early remission in thyrotoxicosis produced by short courses of treatment

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Abstract
Twenty-eight patients with Graves'' disease were treated with short-term antithyroid drug therapy with carbimazole, i.e., treatment was discontinued as soon as they became euthyroid. This was less than 4 mo. in all patients. Ten patients remained euthyroid, although in 2 of these, thyrotoxicosis recurred after the patients had been euthyroid for more than 12 mo. The other 18 patients relapsed within 12 wk of stopping therapy, and only 2 have become euthyroid after a further 12 mo. period of treatment. All patients who remitted were thyrotoxic for the 1st time whereas all patients with a past history of thyroid disease relapsed. Positive thyroid microsomal antibody titers were more frequent in patients who remitted; otherwise there were no indicators of a favorable 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 mo. Short-term therapy has the advantage of savings in both patient and clinician time.