Premium
STUDIES OF THYROID FUNCTION USING 99 Tc m IN THYROTOXIC PATIENTS DURING TREATMENT WITH ANTITHYROID DRUGS
Author(s) -
GOOLDEN A. W. G.,
WILLIAMS E. D.,
THALASSINOS N. C.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1973.tb03486.x
Subject(s) - carbimazole , medicine , triiodothyronine , antithyroid drugs , thyroid function , antithyroid agent , endocrinology , graves' disease , gastroenterology , thyroid , thyroid function tests , wilson's disease , drug treatment , disease
SUMMARY Serial measurements of 99 Tc m uptake have been made in thirty thyrotoxic patients treated with carbimazole and L‐triiodothyronine. All patients were followed up for a minimum period of 1 year at which time eighteen patients were still in remission and twelve had relapsed. Four of the twenty‐one patients who had a normal 99 Tc m uptake at the time treatment was discontinued relapsed within 6 months. Only one of the nine patients whose uptake at the end of treatment was above normal achieved a remission. Changes in 99 Tc m uptake during the first 6 months of treatment were less informative and proved to be of limited value in predicting the outcome of treatment. In the whole group of patients 99 Tc m uptake fell during the first 6 months by about 40%, this change being highly significant. The decline in thyroid activity coincided with the time at which treatment was started. It is suggested that treatment with an antithyroid drug may modify the course of the disease.