[Treatment of Graves' disease: 300 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To try to select the best treatment among synthetic anti-thyroid agents, surgery and radioiodine in the case of Graves' disease.

METHOD: We present a retrospective study of therapeutic and progressive aspects of 300 cases of Graves' disease.

RESULTS

At the time of the diagnosis, the patients' mean age was of 38.17 years. Female sex predominated (70.7%). Medical treatment was prescribed in 25.7% of cases. Agranulocytosis occurred in one patient who died from septic shock. Surgery was performed in 29.3% of patients and 41% were treated with radioactive iodine. After a mean follow-up of 53.7 months, a progression towards euthyroidism was noted in 60, 22.7 and 21.7% of patients treated respectively with antithyroid drugs, surgery and radioiodine. Hypothyroidism was noted in around 40% of cases, 57.8% of which were treated surgically. Recurrent hyperthyroidism is more frequent with antithyroid drugs.

CONCLUSION

Medical treatment increases the risk of relapse. It is therefore preferable to apply radical treatments in order to obtain permanent remission from hyperthyroidism.