THYROTOXICOSIS TREATED WITH THIOURACIL

Abstract

Interference with the production of thyroid hormone in animals, first by sulfaguanidine and later by other chemicals, notably thiourea and thiouracil, has been demonstrated by the Mackenzies and McCollum,¹ Richter and Clisby,² Kennedy³ and Astwood and his co-workers.⁴ Observations of this effect in human beings and its application in the treatment of hyperthyroidism were first made by Astwood,⁵ who reported on the clinical use of both thiourea and thiouracil, and later by Williams and Bissell⁶ and by Himsworth,⁷ using thiouracil and thiourea respectively. All reported uniformly good results, but some adverse effects were noted also. Two thiouracil treated patients showed evidence of agranulocytosis,⁸ while 2 more showed pitting edema with some evidence of renal involvement.⁶ Both thiourea⁵ and thiouracil⁹ produced a skin rash in 5 patients. Mild jaundice was noted once.¹⁰ While the total reported number of treated