[Long-term follow up after antithyroid drug treatment in Graves' disease]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In Europe antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy is the preferred initial treatment for patients with a first episode of Graves' disease. Results of long-term recurrence rates following ATD therapy are conflicting. The main goal was to assess long-term recurrence rate after ATD treatment. Secondarily we tried to verify chemical and clinical findings (thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb), duration of primary treatment, age and goitre size) as predictive factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of 94 patients with a first episode of Graves' disease (1990-1995) treated by ATD were retrospectively analyzed. 18 patients were lost for follow up investigations, the remaining 76 (65 women, 11 men, age 16-76 years) patients were followed for 99 (+/- 22) months (mean +/- SD). To verify the predictive factors a logistic regression analysis was done.

RESULTS

Among the 76 patients 16 underwent near-total resection (n = 5) or radioiodine therapy (n = 11) after initial ATD treatment. Sixty patients were treated during 19 +/- 16 months (mean +/- SD) with ATDs and were euthyroid when treatment was stopped. Thirteen of the 60 patients (21.7%) remained in remission after discontinuation of ATD therapy, in 42 patients (70%) hyperthyroidism recurred, in four patients (6.7%) ATD could not be stopped, one patient (1.7%) had a persistent hypothyroidism after discontinuation of ATD. Relapse rate was inversely correlated with duration of primary ATD treatment (p < 0.05), but not with TRAb titer at the time of diagnosis nor at the time of ATD discontinuation. Also, no correlation could be noticed with goitre size at the time of diagnosis. An inverse correlation of the age at the time of diagnosis with relapse rate was of only borderline significance (p = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial successful treatment with ATD is followed by a high recurrence rate in our population. Two possible negative predictors of relapse are short duration of primary ATD treatment and young age at the time of diagnosis. TRAb titer at the time of diagnosis or at the time of ATD discontinuation and goitre size seem to have no influence on the outcome.

Graves' ophthalmopathy: natural history and treatment outcomes

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy has not been yet clarified, and from a therapeutic standpoint Graves' ophthalmopathy remains an enigma. The natural course and effects of different treatment regimens are poorly documented.

RESULTS

The mean observation period was 3.23 years (1-8.9 years) for all 196 patients, and 2.85 years (1-8.9 years) for the 81 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. The gender distribution was 77% female and 23% male in patients with Graves' disease and ophthalmopathy, and 81% female and 19% male in those patients without ophthalmopathy (p = 0.57). Seventy per cent of the patients developed Graves' ophthalmopathy within 12 months before or after the onset of the hyperthyroidism. Among the 81 patients with ophthalmopathy 53 (65%) received no therapy or only local protective agents. Twenty-five of these patients improved substantially, 26 did not change, and 2 deteriorated progressively. These results were independent of the severity of the EO (p = 0.42). Among the 11 patients initially treated with systemic corticosteroids 7 improved, 3 did not change, and 1 worsened. Five patients received initially orbital irradiation. Three improved and 2 did not change after radiotherapy. Orbital decompression was performed in 3 patients. Nine patients received a combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study of a relatively large patient sample revealed the known epidemiological facts regarding Graves' disease and endocrine ophthalmopathy. The majority of patients needed no therapy or only local protective agents, and 47% improved spontaneously. Systemic corticosteroids and orbital irradiation appear to be equally effective as initial treatment in patients with more severe forms of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Graves' ophthalmopathy: natural history and treatment outcomes

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy has not been yet clarified, and from a therapeutic standpoint Graves' ophthalmopathy remains an enigma. The natural course and effects of different treatment regimens are poorly documented.

RESULTS

The mean observation period was 3.23 years (1-8.9 years) for all 196 patients, and 2.85 years (1-8.9 years) for the 81 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. The gender distribution was 77% female and 23% male in patients with Graves' disease and ophthalmopathy, and 81% female and 19% male in those patients without ophthalmopathy (p = 0.57). Seventy per cent of the patients developed Graves' ophthalmopathy within 12 months before or after the onset of the hyperthyroidism. Among the 81 patients with ophthalmopathy 53 (65%) received no therapy or only local protective agents. Twenty-five of these patients improved substantially, 26 did not change, and 2 deteriorated progressively. These results were independent of the severity of the EO (p = 0.42). Among the 11 patients initially treated with systemic corticosteroids 7 improved, 3 did not change, and 1 worsened. Five patients received initially orbital irradiation. Three improved and 2 did not change after radiotherapy. Orbital decompression was performed in 3 patients. Nine patients received a combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study of a relatively large patient sample revealed the known epidemiological facts regarding Graves' disease and endocrine ophthalmopathy. The majority of patients needed no therapy or only local protective agents, and 47% improved spontaneously. Systemic corticosteroids and orbital irradiation appear to be equally effective as initial treatment in patients with more severe forms of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

[Therapy of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism]

Pathogenesis, diagnostic procedures and therapy of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) and hypothyroidism (AIH) are briefly discussed. Diagnosis of AIT and AIT is based on the classical signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, although oligosymptomatic cases may occur, and on laboratory tests such as TSH, fT4 und fT3. In AIT, radioiodine therapy usually is no option due to the high iodine content of amiodarone. Besides withdrawal of amiodarone, medical and surgical treatment remain the only modalities. If arrhythmia can be controlled by an alternative treatment, amiodarone should be discontinued although this will not immediately restore normal thyroid function. For medical treatment, thionamides, perchlorate (not available in Switzerland), steroids (mainly for type II and mixed forms of AIT) and lithium (only for severe cases) are available. Surgery is a valid therapeutical option for severe forms of AIT which cannot be controlled adequately by medical treatment. The main advantage of surgical therapy of AIT is the rapid correction of thyrotoxicosis combined with the possibility to continue amiodarone, if it is necessary and effective. With AIH, amiodarone does not have to be stopped, if indicated and effective, and L-thyroxine is the therapy of choice.

[Diarrhea, erythema nodosum, arthralgia]

Following antibiotic treatment of febrile tonsillitis, a 20-year old man developed watery diarrhea during military service. He was admitted to the infirmary by the medical officer. During the last year the patient had traveled to Spain. The history of recent food intake was not remarkable. The clinical investigation revealed a slightly tender liver. A markedly elevated ESR, a consecutively developing erythema nodosum on both lower legs and arthralgias opened a broad spectrum of differential diagnoses that are discussed here. Stool cultures grew salmonella typhimurium. The clinical picture, the treatment and possible complications of this salmonellosis are discussed.