PROPYLTHIOURACIL AND METHIMAZOLE THERAPY

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to report the results of the use of methimazole ("tapazole") in 45 patients and propylthiouracil in 54 patients in the management of hyperthyroidism at the Indiana University Medical Center and the Indianapolis General Hospital. All these cases were followed by one or more of us. They were treated in the outpatient thyroid clinics unless the severity of toxicity or complications necessitated admission to the hospital. The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in these cases was based on the characteristic features of the history and the results of physical examination and the usual laboratory studies. In the majority of cases three basal metabolism tests were made prior to treatment. Radioactive iodine (I¹³¹) uptake with excretion studies and protein-bound iodine determinations were also made in many cases. Generally the patients were seen every two weeks in thyroid clinics, but in some cases the visits were every