Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
Management of Endocrine Disease: Arguments for the Prolonged Use of Antithyroid Drugs in Children With Graves’ Disease
source: European Journal of Endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies
year: 2017
authors: Léger J, Carel JC
summary/abstract:Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder. It is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, but is rare in children. Patients are initially managed with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), such as methimazole/carbimazole. A major disadvantage of treatment with ATD is the high risk of relapse, exceeding 70% of children treated for duration of 2 years, and the potential major side effects of the drug reported in exceptional cases.
The major advantage of ATD treatment is that normal homeostasis of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis may be restored, with periods of drug treatment followed by freedom from medical intervention achieved in approximately 40-50% of cases after prolonged treatment with ATD, for several years, in recent studies. Alternative ablative treatments such as radioactive iodine and, less frequently and mostly in cases of very high volume goiters or in children under the age of 5 years, thyroidectomy, performed by pediatric surgeons with extensive experience should be proposed in cases of non-compliance, intolerance to medical treatment or relapse after prolonged medical treatment.
Ablative treatments are effective against hyperthyroidism, but they require the subsequent administration of levothyroxine throughout the patient’s life. This review considers data relating to the prognosis for Graves’ disease remission in children and explores the limitations of study designs and results; and the emerging proposal for management through the prolonged use of ATD drugs.
organization: Centre de Référence des Maladies Endocriniennes Rares de la Croissance, France; Sorbonne Paris Cité, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm), FranceDOI: 10.1530/EJE-16-0938
read more full text
Related Content
-
Most Graves’ Disease Treated With Antithyroid DrugsAdults with Graves’ disease are more l...
-
Effects of Selenium on Short-Term Control of Hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ Disease Treated With Methimazole: ...Objective: In spite of previous conflic...
-
Current Trends in Antithyroid Drug Treatment of Graves’ DiseaseIntroduction: Graves' hyperthyroidism i...
-
Successful Re-Administration of Low-Dose of Methimazole (MMI) in Graves’ Disease Patients who Experienced Alle...Objective: When patients with Graves' d...
-
Remission After Potassium Iodide Therapy in Patients With Graves’ Hyperthyroidism Exhibiting Thionamide-Associ...Context: Thionamides have various side ...
-
FDA Drug Safety Communication: New Boxed Warning on Severe Liver Injury With PropylthiouracilThe United States Food and Drug Administ...
-
Total Thyroidectomy (Tx) Versus Thionamides (Antithyroid Drugs) in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Graves’ Op...Background: Graves' disease (GD) is cha...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.