Treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism Treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism Author Douglas S Ross, MD Section Editor David S Cooper, MD Deputy Editor Jean E Mulder, MD Disclosures All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. Literature review current through: Oct 2012. | This topic last updated: Nov 30, 2011. INTRODUCTION — Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by antibodies against the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor (also called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins), is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. This topic will provide an overview of treatment options for Graves' hyperthyroidism, while specific therapies are reviewed in separate topic reviews. The causes of hyperthyroidism and the pathogenesis of Graves' hyperthyroidism are also discussed separately. (See "Disorders that cause hyperthyroidism" and "Pathogenesis of Graves' disease" .) TREATMENT — The therapeutic approach to Graves' hyperthyroidism consists of both rapid amelioration of symptoms with a beta- blocker and measures aimed at decreasing thyroid hormone synthesis: the administration of a thionamide, radioiodine ablation, or surgery [1 ]. In the only randomized prospective trial comparing these three therapies, each was equally effective in normalizing serum thyroid hormone concentrations within six weeks; after treatment, 95 percent or more of the patients were satisfied with their therapy [2 ]. In addition, most patients reported that they would recommend the therapy to a friend without reservation (medical: 68 percent; surgical: 74 percent; radioiodine: 84 percent). The risk of relapse was 37, 21, and 6
Treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidismAuthorDouglas S Ross,
MDSection EditorDavid S Cooper, MDDeputy EditorJean E Mulder,
MDDisclosuresAll topics are updated as new evidence becomes
available and our peer review process is complete.Literature review
current through: Oct 2012. | This topic last updated: Nov 30, 2011.
INTRODUCTIONGraves' disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by
antibodies against the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor (also called
thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins), is the most common cause of
hyperthyroidism. This topic will provide an overview of treatment
options for Graves' hyperthyroidism, while specific therapies are
reviewed in separate topic reviews. The causes of hyperthyroidism
and the pathogenesis of Graves' hyperthyroidism are also discussed
separately. (See "Disorders that cause hyperthyroidism"and
"Pathogenesis of Graves' disease".) TREATMENTThe therapeutic
approach to Graves' hyperthyroidism consists of both rapid
amelioration of symptoms with a beta-blocker and measures aimed at
decreasing thyroid hormone synthesis: the administration of a
thionamide, radioiodine ablation, or surgery [1]. In the only
randomized prospective trial comparing these three therapies, each
was equally effective in normalizing serum thyroid hormone
concentrations within six weeks; after treatment, 95 percent or
more of the patients were satisfied with their therapy [2]. In
addition, most patients reported that they would recommend the
therapy to a friend without reservation (medical: 68 percent;
surgical: 74 percent; radioiodine: 84 percent). The risk of relapse
was 37, 21, and 6 percent in the thionamide, radioiodine, and
surgery groups, respectively.
