OUTCOME OF LONG-TERM ANTITHYROID TREATMENT OF GRAVES' DISEASE IN RELATION TO IODINE INTAKE

Seventy-seven patients with Graves' disease, with an average of 56 years of age were treated with carbimazole in the period 1968–1975. The duration of therapy was on an average, 17.9 months and the follow-up on an average, 28.5 months. Remission was found only in 32 % of the patients. Data on the urinary iodine excretion from a total of 127 euthyroid controls and 15 patients with Graves' disease living in the same area were collected during the periods: 1962–1964, 1965–1968, 1971–1973 and 1972–1974. No significant difference was found in the urinary iodine excretion in the period 1962–1973 and no significant difference was found in the urinary iodine excretion between the patients with Graves' disease and the euthyroid controls. Our data demonstrate a high relapse rate following long-term treatment with anti-thyroid drugs in an area with relative low iodine intake.