[Long-term evolution of immunologic and thyroid function in Graves disease according different therapeutic options].
BACKGROUND
A prospective study was carried out to compare the evolution of thyroid hormones, thyroglobulin (Tg) and immunoglobulins inhibiting the binding of thyrotropin to its receptor (TBII) in patients with Graves disease treated with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine and subtotal thyroidectomy.


METHODS
Ninety-five patients with Graves disease were studied, being distributed according to clinical criteria: Group I (n = 35) patients treated with antithyroid drugs; Group II (n = 30) patients who received 131I; and Group III (n = 30) patients treated with subtotal thyroidectomy. The thyroid hormones, Tg, antithyroglobulin antibodies and TBII were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), prior to treatment, and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of follow up, except in those patients from Group III who were followed up to 24 months.


RESULTS
The rate of reactivation at 12 months did not significantly differ among the three groups. At 24 months a higher percentage of reactivations was observed in Group I (42%), versus Group II (16%, p < 0.001) and Group III (13%, p < 0.005). At 36 months reactivation was 30% in Group I, versus 5% in Group II (p < 0.01). Upon comparison of the TBII values among the three groups, the highest basal values corresponded to Group III with significant differences being found versus Group I (p < 0.05) and Group II (p < 0.001). TBII concentrations in the three groups studied remained high at 6 and 12 months with no significant differences being observed. Negativization was shown in the TBII at 24 months in Group II with a significant difference being seen versus Group I and III. At 36 months negativization was seen in the TBII in Group I with significant differences with respect to Group II.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of reactivation following antithyroid treatment is greater to that obtained in groups treated with iodine or surgery. The earliest negativization of TBII was obtained with radioiodine.
Campos Pastor
M M
MM
Servicio de Endocrinología (Cátedra de Medicina Interna I), Hospital Universitario, Granada.
Fernández Soto
M L
ML
Escobar-Jiménez
F
F
Barredo Acedo
F
F
Ruiz de Almodóvar
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D013974:Thyroxine