Treatment outcome 6-10 years after diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in 2916 patients : a longitudinal evaluation of a swedish incidence cohort

• Treatment of Graves’ disease (GD) and toxic nodular goiter (TNG) has the objectives to cure hyperthyroidism, prevent recurrent disease and preserve thyroid function. Treatment efficacies and long-termout comes of antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery varies in the literature. We report outcome of treatment, cure rate and risk factors for relapse for GD and TNG in an unselected cohort. A prospective incidence-cohort of de novo diagnosed GD and TNG patients (n = 2916) from 2003-05, were invited to a follow-up 6 - 10 years after diagnosis. Questionnaires were sent to 2430 patients regarding treatments, cure rate, recurrence, quality of life, demographic data, comorbidities and life-style factors. Patients were treated according to clinical routine with ATD, RAI or surgery. Of those included, 1186 (83.3%) had GD and 237 (16.7%) had TNG. In GD patients, 351 (45.3%), 264 (81.5%), and 52 (96.3%) were cured by ATD, RAI or surgery respectively as first line treatment. Of those, 77.0%, 15.4% and 3.8% respectively were without levothyr-oxine supplementation at follow-up at 8 – 0.9 years. Including all treatment modalities, 851 (71.8%) of GD patients were cured within one treatment period. At follow-up, 278 (23%) of GD patients had been operated. In TNG patients, RAI cured 88.6% and surgery 92.9%, whereof 52/154 (33.8%) and 3/15 (20%) had no levothyroxine supplementation post RAI and surgery, respectively.The proportion that did not feel fully recovered at follow-up was 25.3% of GD and 18.1% of the TNG patients. Overall, treatment of hyperthyroidism results in preserved thyroid function only in 35.3% and 44.7% of GD and TNG cases, respectively. As many as 23.4% of the GD patients end up with surgery although only 4.6% choose it from the beginning. Our treatment tradition cures 71.8% of GD patients and 78.1% of TNG patients within one treatment period. The high number of patients who do not feel recovered 6 -10 years after hyperthyroidism in GD and TNG is are minder of the chronic nature of hyperthyroidism.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)