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Treatment of relapsed hyperthyroidism

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2018;61(4):248-252
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 April 17
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2018.61.4.248
Jae Hoon Chung, MD,1,2
1Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Corresponding author: Jae Hoon Chung E-mail: thyroid@skku.edu
Received 2018 March 06; Accepted 2018 March 20.

Abstract

Abstract

Graves disease is the most common disease that causes hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormones due to continuous stimulation of the thyroid gland by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody. Therapeutic modalities for Graves disease include antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine, and thyroidectomy. ATDs are the most preferred therapeutic option by physicians in most countries except North America. However, current treatment strategies are unfortunately aimed at inhibiting thyroid hormone production or ablating the thyroid to induce permanent hypothyroidism, not at inhibiting thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody. ATD therapy has a high relapse rate (more than 50%), and morbidity and mortality increase in cases of relapse. Therefore, the proper and prompt management of relapsed patients is very important.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism; Recurrence; Antithyroid agents; Iodine radioisotopes; Thyroidectomy

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