Childhood hyperthyroidism. Results of treatment.
40 hyperthyroid children were followed for 0.2--12 (mean 4.5) years. The treatment was antithyroid drugs in 20, subtotal thyroidectomy after a drug trial in 18 and primary thyroidectomy in 2 patients. 4 patients who relapsed (3 after surgery and 1 after a drug trial) were given radioiodide. 11 of the surgically treated glands were nodular. At the follow-up study 24 patients were euthyroid, 7 were on thyroxine therapy and in 5 others hypothyroidism was discovered. 2 subjects were still on antithyroid drugs and 2 relapsed. In 5 euthyroid patients the TRH test revealed a low thyroid reserve. In 28 of 34 subjects examined circulating antibodies to thyroid microsomes were present in high titres. Evidently, regular follow-up is needed because of the high risk of hypothyroidism.
D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002231:Carbimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007454:Iodides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000906:Antibodies; D007454:Iodides; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D002231:Carbimazole; D013974:Thyroxine