Graves' disease during pregnancy.

Presented are two case studies which investigate the adverse effects of Graves' disease in pregnant women. Particular attention has been paid to the therapeutic regimen and its implications for the maternal, fetal and neonatal well-being. The first case study illustrates that Graves' disease complicating pregnancy can be treated by bed rest and careful observation of mother and fetus. The first pregnancy of our second case study confirms these results. Her second pregnancy, in which the symptoms of Graves' disease were far more severe, illustrates that it is possible to treat fetal hyperthyroidism by treating the pregnant mother with antithyroid drugs. If great care is taken to avoid overtreatment of the fetus, the treatment with antithyroid drugs is superior to surgical treatment, since surgery completely neglects the problem of fetal hyperthyroidism.