Prediction of the Long-Term Results of Antithyroid Drug Therapy for Thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

Ninety-three patients were studied during and for an average of 20 months after long-term carbimazole and triiodothyronine therapy. On the last day of antithyroid drug therapy 51 patients had thyroid uptakes suppressed into the normal range (20 min thyroid uptake below 8%), and of these 35 remained euthyroid and 16 relapsed. Forty-two patients did not show suppression of uptake and of these 10 remained euthyroid and 32 relapsed. Prediction of the outcome after 6 months' treatment was no less reliable than on the last day of antithyroid drug therapy. Prediction after 3 months' treatment was unsatisfactory.