title: A 2013 European survey of clinical practice patterns in the management of Graves' disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Management of Graves' disease (GD) in Europe was published in 1987. Aim of this survey was to provide an update on clinical practice in Europe, and to compare it with a 2011 American survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) were asked to participate in a survey on management of GD, using the same questionnaire of a recent American survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 147 ETA members participated. In addition to serum TSH and free T4 assays, most respondents would request TSH-receptor autoantibody (TRAb) measurement (85·6%) and thyroid ultrasound (70·6%) to confirm aetiology, while isotopic studies were selected by 37·7%. Antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy was the preferred first-line treatment (83·8%). Compared to the previous European survey, Europeans currently more frequently use TRAb measurement and thyroid ultrasound for diagnosis and evaluation, but first-line treatment remains ATDs in a similar percentage of respondents. Current clinical practice patterns differ from those in North America, where isotopic studies are more frequently used, and radioiodine (RAI) still is first-line treatment. When RAI treatment is selected in the presence of mild Graves' orbitopathy and/or associated risk factors for its occurrence/exacerbation, steroid prophylaxis is frequently used. The preferred ATD in pregnancy is propylthiouracil in the first trimester and methimazole in the second and third trimesters, similar to North America.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant changes in clinical practice patterns in Europe were noted compared to the previous European survey, as well as persisting differences in diagnosis and therapy between Europe and North America.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartalena
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Burch
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Section, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Burman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kahaly
mesh_terms: D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009656:North America; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D008713:Methimazole; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine