scholarly journals Long-Term Antithyroid Drug Treatment of Graves’ Disease in Children and Adolescents: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari Song ◽  
Su Jin Kim ◽  
Min-Sun Kim ◽  
Jiyeon Kim ◽  
Insung Kim ◽  
...  

Background/purposeGraves’ disease (GD) is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in children and adolescents. There is some debate regarding the optimal treatment and predicting factors of remission or relapse in children and adolescents with GD. In this study, we report a retrospective study of 195 children and adolescents with GD treated at a single tertiary institution in Korea.MethodsThis study included children and adolescents with GD diagnosed before 19 years of age from January of 2000 to October of 2020. The diagnosis of GD was based on clinical features, high thyroxine (FT4), suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone, and a positive titer of thyrotropin receptor antibodies. Remission was defined as maintenance of euthyroid status for more than six months after discontinuing antithyroid drug (ATD).ResultsA total of 195 patients with GD were included in this study. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.9 ± 3.2 years, and 162 patients (83.1%) were female. Among all 195 patients, five underwent thyroidectomy and three underwent radioactive iodine therapy. The mean duration of follow-up and ATD treatment were 5.9 ± 3.8 years and 4.7 ± 3.4 years, respectively. The cumulative remission rates were 3.3%, 19.6%, 34.1%, 43.5%, and 50.6% within 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years of starting ATD, respectively. FT4 level at diagnosis (P = 0.001) was predicting factors for remission [HR, 0.717 (95% CI, 0.591 – 0.870), P = 0.001]. Methimazole (MMI)-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 11.3% of patients, the most common of which were rash and hematologic abnormalities. Of a total of 26 AEs, 19 (73.1%) occurred within the first month of taking MMI.ConclusionsIn this study, the cumulative remission rate increased according to the ATD treatment duration. Long-term MMI treatment is a useful treatment option before definite treatment in children and adolescents with GD.

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvan Bayramoğlu ◽  
Selin Elmaogulları ◽  
Elif Sagsak ◽  
Zehra Aycan

Abstract Background The management options for Graves’ disease in children are limited and there is controversy regarding optimal treatment. Remission rate with anti-thyroid drug (ATD) treatment in children is said to be lower than in adults. Definitive treatments are effective, but they often result in permanent hypothyroidism. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of methimazole treatment, identify significant predictors of a remission and evaluate the adverse effects of methimazole in a pediatric population of GD patients. Methods Medical records of the patients who had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease were screened retrospectively. Diagnostic criteria included elevated free thyroxine (fT4) and total triiodothyronine (T3), suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and either positive thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) or thyroid receptor antibodies (TRABs) or clinical signs suggestive of Graves’ disease, for example, exophthalmos. Remission was defined as maintenance of euthyroidism for more than 12 months after discontinuing methimazole treatment. Results Of the 48 patients, provisional remission was achieved in 21 patients. Of the 21 patients, 14 experienced a relapse (66.6%). Remission was achieved in seven (24.1%) of 29 patients who received methimazole treatment for more than 2 years. In patients who achieved long-term remission, the male sex ratio and fT4 levels at diagnosis were significantly lower than the relapsed and non-remission groups, whereas the free triiodothyronine (fT3)/fT4 ratio and duration of methimazole treatment were significantly higher than the relapse group. Conclusions Long-term methimazole treatment in pediatric Graves’ disease would be appropriate. High fT4 levels at the time of diagnosis and male sex were associated with a risk of relapse.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereidoun Azizi ◽  
Atieh Amouzegar

Abstract Background: Diffuse toxic goiter accounts for about 15% of all childhood thyroid diseases. There is great controversy over the management of Graves’ disease in children and adolescents. This article reports our experience in 304 children and juvenile patients with Graves’ disease. Methods: Between 1981 and 2015, 304 patients aged 5–19 years with diffuse toxic goiter were studied, of whom 296 patients were treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD) for 18 months. Patients with persistent or relapsed hyperthyroidism who refused ablative therapy with surgery or radioiodine were managed with continuous methimazole (MMI) treatment. Results: In 304 patients (245 females and 59 males), the mean age was 15.6±2.6 years. After 18 months of ATD therapy, 37 remained in remission and of the 128 who relapsed, two, 29 and 97 patients chose surgery, continuous ATD and radioiodine therapy, respectively. Of the 136 patients who received radioiodine, 66.2% became hypothyroid. Twenty-nine patients received continuous ATD therapy for 5.7±2.4 years. The mean MMI dose was 4.6±12 mg daily, no serious complications occurred and all of them remained euthyroid during the follow-up. Less abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values were observed in these patients, as compared to patients who were on a maintenance dose of levothyroxine after radioiodine induced hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Original treatment with ATD and subsequent radioiodine therapy remain the mainstay of treatment for juvenile hyperthyroidism. Continuous ATD administration may be considered as another treatment modality for hyperthyroidism.


1996 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 710-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claes Rudberg ◽  
Henry Johansson ◽  
Göran Åkerström ◽  
Torsten Tuvemo ◽  
F Anders Karlsson

Rudberg C, Johansson H, ÅÅ G, Tuvemo T, Karlsson FA. Graves' disease in children and adolescents. Late results of surgical treatment. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:710–5. ISSN0804–4643 All children and adolescents with Graves' disease in the county of Uppsala (catchment area population 250000) treated between 1970 and 1994 were evaluated in a retrospective study. The material comprised 31 patients with a mean age of 11 years (range 4–16), 29 (94%) of whom were girls, and four (13%) of the patients had Down's syndrome. Treatment was primarily conservative and surgery was considered if prolonged medical treatment failed. Lasting remission after antithyroid drug therapy (median 6.5 years; range 4.5–8 years) was noted in 6/31 patients (19%), three (10%) of whom subsequently developed hypothyroidism. Twenty-four of the remaining patients (77%) ultimately underwent subtotal (N=20) or total thyroidectomy (N=4) after experiencing one or more episodes of recurrent hyperthyroidism during medical treatment (median 6 years; range 0.5–11 years). After surgery one patient developed permanent hypocalcemia requiring low-dose vitamin D supplementation. During a postoperative follow-up period of 12.2 years (median: range 1–17 years), there were two cases of recurrent thyrotoxicosis, 1 and 10 years after surgery. The results underline that gender and Down's syndrome are risk factors of juvenile Graves' disease and that the disorder often is difficult to control by long-term medical therapy. In such cases thyroid surgery offers a safe and prompt reversal of the thyrotoxicosis. A proportion of the patients may ultimately develop hypothyroidism, substantiating a need for long-term follow-up of persons afflicted with Graves' disease early in life. F Anders Karlsson, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala. Sweden


2015 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomei Liu ◽  
Wei Qiang ◽  
Xingjun Liu ◽  
Lianye Liu ◽  
Shu Liu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThere are scarce reports regarding the prognosis of a second course of antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy on recurrent Graves' disease (GD). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term remission rate after a second ATD therapy and verify significant clinical predictors of a remission.DesignA prospective randomized clinical trial with long-term follow-up was conducted to evaluate the effects of a second course of ATD therapy.MethodsA total of 128 recurrent GD patients who had finished a first regular ATD therapy were enrolled in this study, and prescribed methimazole (MMI) treatment with titration regimen. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups when the drug doses were reduced to 2.5 mg daily (qd). Group 1 was discontinued with 2.5 mg qd after about 5 months. Group 2 was continuously reduced to 2.5 mg every other day (qod) after 5 months and then discontinued with 2.5 mg qod after about a further 5 months. The patients were followed for 48 months after drug withdrawal.ResultsOf the total number of patients, 97 cases (75.78%) achieved permanent remission at the end of follow-up, with the recurrence of 31 cases (24.22%). The remission rate of group 2 (84.62%) was significantly higher than that of group 1 (66.67%) (P=0.024). Cox regression showed that the hazard ratio for recurrence decreased under a high or high normal TSH level at drug withdrawal.ConclusionA second course of ATD therapy can bring about a satisfying long-term remission on recurrent GD. The drug dose of 2.5 mg qod and a high or high normal TSH level at drug withdrawal may increase the likelihood of permanent remission.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yotsapon Thewjitcharoen ◽  
Krittadhee Karndumri ◽  
Waralee Chatchomchuan ◽  
Sriurai Porramatikul ◽  
Sirinate Krittiyawong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Methimazole (MMI) has been advocated as a preferred option for most Graves disease (GD) patients. However, long-term remission after a course of MMI treatment is achieved in only 20% to 40% of patients, depending on the duration of follow-up. Objective To evaluate clinical factors for predicting relapse of GD in Thai patients after MMI treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of newly diagnosed patients with GD who achieved remission of hyperthyroid GD after at least 12 months of MMI treatment. Long-term outcomes were assessed and predictive factors of early and late relapse were evaluated. Results A total of 443 patients with newly diagnosed GD who were treated with MMI for at least 12 months from 1985 to 2019, and were able to discontinue medication, were studied. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.0 ± 11.4 years and 81.7% were female. Of the 320 patients (72.2%) who achieved initial remission after MMI treatment for 23 months, 106 patients (33.1%) experienced late relapse during the mean follow-up duration of 9.7 years after MMI withdrawal. The remission rates decreased from 36.4% at the first year after stopping MMI to only 20.7% at 10 years. High initial serum triiodothyronine (T3) level and duration of minimum maintenance dose therapy (MMDT) of <6 months were associated with late disease relapse after remission. Conclusion The long-term remission rate of Graves hyperthyroidism was achieved in one-fifth of MMI-treated Thai patients. Predictive markers for late relapse included high initial serum T3 level and a duration of MMDT of <6 months.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Ting Chiang ◽  
Wei-Hsin Ting ◽  
Chi-Yu Huang ◽  
Shih-Kang Huang ◽  
Chon-In Chan ◽  
...  

AbstractGraves disease (GD) is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in children and adolescents, accounting for 15% of all thyroid diseases during childhood. Anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) are recommended as the first-line treatment in children and adolescents. However, the remission rate is lower in children than in adults, and the optimal treatment duration and favorite factors associated with remission remain unknown. We aimed to investigate long-term outcomes of pediatric GD patients receiving ATD. We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 300 pediatric GD subjects, who were initially treated with ATD and followed up for more than one year, from 1985 to 2017 at MacKay Children’s Hospital. The 300 patients comprised 257 (85.7%) females and 43 (14.3%) males, median age at diagnosis was 11.6 (range 2.7-17.8) years, and median follow-up period was 4.7 (range 1.1-23.9) years. Overall, 122 patients achieved the criteria for discontinuing ATD treatment, seventy-nine (39.9%) patients achieved remission, with a median follow-up period of 5.3 (range 1.5-20.1) years. Patients in the remission group were more likely to be aged < 5 years (remission vs. relapse vs. ongoing ATD; 11.4 vs. 0 vs. 2.6%, P=0.02), less likely to have a family history of thyroid disease (24.1 vs. 42.1 vs. 52.6 %, P=0.001), and had lower TRAb levels (42.8 vs. 53.6 vs. 65.1 %, P=0.02).ConclusionLong-term ATD remains an effective treatment option for GD in children and adolescents. Pediatric GD patients aged < 5 years, having no family history of thyroid disease and having lower TRAb levels were more likely to achieve remission.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Naciri Bennani ◽  
Juste Yérémandé Bonzi ◽  
Johan Noble ◽  
Florian Terrec ◽  
Lionel Motte ◽  
...  

Introduction: Primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) frequently reoccurs on kidney transplants and may lead to premature allograft loss. There are no guidelines for treating FSGS recurrence on allografts; treatment is based on apheresis (plasma exchange plasmapheresis [PP], semi-specific immunoadsorption [IA] with reusable columns) plus rituximab. Objective: We aimed to assess the efficacy of IA to treat recurrent FSGS. Methods: We report on 7 patients with recurrent FSGS on kidney allograft (proteinuria ≥3 g/g of urinary creatinine or ≥3 g/day); they all received IA. Our primary objective was to reduce proteinuria by >50%. Patients’ mean age was 45 ± 10 years. Postoperative immunosuppression relied on steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, with an induction therapy of basiliximab or antithymocyte globulins. Prophylaxis to prevent FSGS recurrence was either rituximab alone (n = 3), rituximab plus either PP or IA (n = 3), or no treatment (n = 1). Mean follow-up was 20 ± 13 months. There was a median of 72 (14–101) IA sessions per patient, that is, a mean of 14 ± 1 sessions per IA column. Results: At 12 months after starting IA, all patients had partial (n = 6) or complete (n = 1) remission, and allograft survival was 100%. The mean reduction in proteinuria within an IA session was 45 ± 15%. At last follow-up, 2 patients are in remission without IA, 3 patients are in partial remission that is IA dependent, and 2 patients lost their allograft due to FSGS recurrence. The most frequent adverse event was cytomegalovirus reactivation (n = 13), which subsided after valganciclovir therapy. Conclusions: We show that recurrence of FSGS can be controlled long term with IA plus rituximab. However, some patients remained dependent on IA.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Liu ◽  
Arismendy Nunez-Garcia ◽  
Cao Tran ◽  
Michael Wu

Introduction: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by spatiotemporal dispersion (SD) of electrograms has been proposed as an ablation strategy to treat patients with persistent AF. However, external validation of this technique is lacking. Here we report a single center experience using ablation by SD. Hypothesis: Targeting regions with SD is associated with a high rate of termination and favorable freedom from AF among patients with persistent AF. Methods: Patients with persistent AF who underwent SD from November 2018 to January 2020 were included in this study. All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in addition to targeting areas of SD. Lesions on areas of electrogram dispersion were anchored to the PVI or to mitral or posterior wall lines where appropriate. EKG, Holter, event monitors or device interrogations were obtained at 3 and 6 months to assess for arrhythmia recurrence. Results: 44 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The patients had a mean age of 69±8 years and were 68 % male. The prevalence of comorbidities was as follows: hypertension (89%), diabetes (21%), OSA (37%) and CAD (26%). Average CHADSVASC score was 2.9±1.4, LVEF was 53±11% and left atrium (LA) diameter was 5.2±1 cm. The recurrence rate of AF at 6 months was 14% whereas the recurrence of atrial tachycardia was 20%. Acute AF termination was observed in 73% of the patients. Termination to sinus occurred in 38% of the patients and the remaining terminated to atrial tachycardia which was subsequently ablated to sinus. The mean procedure duration was 240±90 minutes. Univariate analysis showed recurrence was associated with LA diameter (r=.52; p<.001). No recurrences were observed among patients with a LA diameter < 5 cm. Termination rates were higher among patients with LA diameter < 5 cm when compared to LA diameter ≥ 5 cm. However, it did not reach statistical significance (80% vs. 60%; p=.21). Conclusions: The target of electrograms with SD during AF ablation added to PVI was associated with a high termination rate and a good freedom from AF recurrence at 6 months. The ideal candidate for this procedure may be those with LA diameter < 5 cm among persistent AF. The long-term efficacy of this technique merits further studies in larger populations.


1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merlin V. Nelson ◽  
Vickie Tutag-Lehr ◽  
R. Lee Evans

Nine normal, healthy male subjects had significantly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations while receiving oral lithium carbonate for two weeks. The mean minimum lithium serum concentration was 0.765 mEq/L. The TSH concentrations after 15 days on lithium were significantly correlated to the TSH concentration at baseline. No correlation was found between mean minimum lithium steady-state concentration and TSH concentration after 15 days on lithium. Further research is necessary to determine if a high baseline TSH concentration or an early rise in TSH will predict those patients who will eventually develop hypothyroidism after long-term lithium therapy.


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