Remission of Graves’ Disease During Anti-Thyroid Drug Therapy: Time to Reconsider the Mechanism?

source: European Journal of Endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies

authors: Laurberg P

Therapy of Graves’ hyperthyroidism with thionamide anti-thyroid drugs is accompanied by a gradual remission of the autoimmune aberration in the majority of patients. The most likely mechanism behind this remission has been considered to be a direct immunosuppressive effect of thionamide drugs. However, a number of findings in clinical studies of patients with Graves’ disease indicate that remission is probably not caused by a special effect of thionamide drugs.

Many studies have shown that remission is linked to restoration of the euthyroid state, and that it is independent of drug dose and type. Moreover, similar remission is observed when patients become euthyroid after thyroid surgery. In an explanatory model described, it is assumed that the autoimmune aberration of Graves’ disease is often basically quit mild and self-limiting. Patients may become ill by the running of a vicious cycle of hyperthyroidism worsening the autoimmunity, and autoimmunity worsening the hyperthyroidism.

Once patients are made euthyroid by one or the other drug or by thyroid surgery, the majority of patients will gradually enter remission of the disease. The conclusion that remission is associated with restoration of the euthyroid state, and that it is not a special drug effect, highlights the importance of making and keeping patients with Graves’ disease euthyroid.