Treatment for Childhood-Onset Graves' Disease in Japan: Results of a Nationwide Questionnaire Survey of Pediatric Endocrinologists and Thyroidologists

Abstract

To determine the present condition of treatment of childhood-onset Graves' disease in Japan, a nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted among councilors of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and the Japan Thyroid Association. Responses were received from 125 individuals, and the rate of collection of questionnaires was 47%. Methimazole was selected for first-line initial antithyroid drug therapy by 92% of respondents. Antithyroid drugs tended to be given at larger initial doses and over longer periods of time to childhood-onset patients than to adult patients, and these tendencies were more pronounced for pediatric endocrinologists. Combination therapy with an antithyroid drug and thyroxine was used more frequently by pediatric endocrinologists. Thyroidologists had more experience with radioiodine therapy than pediatric endocrinologists. Opinions regarding preparation of guidelines for the initial dose of methimazole in childhood-onset Graves' disease were almost equally divided among the following: the dose of methimazole should be adjusted according to the severity of disease as in adult cases, methimazole should be started at a dose of 1mg/kg per day in all patients, and the dose should be determined based on results of a randomized study. The present condition of treatment of childhood-onset Graves' disease in Japan was clarified.