Single daily dose short term carbimazole therapy for hyperthyroid Graves' disease.

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease were treated with carbimazole 30 mg daily, given as a single dose. Propranolol was also given for the first 3 weeks. All became clinically euthyroid with normal serum thyroxine (T4) levels, usually within 1-3 months. Patients with large goitres and raised serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations took longer to respond. In 19 patients a positive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response to intravenous thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) developed. Carbimazole was stopped soon after (median time of treatment 18 weeks, range 9-41 weeks) and 18 patients have been followed. Seven of these (39%) have remained in remission from hyperthyroidism for more than one year (median 77 weeks). Carbimazole 30 mg once daily is a convenient and effective treatment for hyperthyroid Graves' disease. Many patients will achieve prolonged remissions if treatment is stopped when serum T3 and T4 levels are in the low-normal range, usually 2-4 months after clinical euthyroidism has been reached.

• Authors: I A MacFarlane, D Davies, D Longson, S M Shalet, C G Beardwell
• Journal: Clinical endocrinology (Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)) Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 557-61 (Jun 1983) ISSN: 0300-0664 [Print] England
• PMID: 6411390 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Triiodothyronine
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Carbimazole
• Thyrotropin
• Propranolol
• Thyroxine

Topics

• Adult
• Carbimazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Graves Disease (blood, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Propranolol (therapeutic use)
• Thyrotropin (blood)
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Thyroxine (blood)
• Triiodothyronine (blood)