Abstract
Eleven patients with a long history of Graves' disease received lithium carbonate for 6 months as the sole therapy. Mean follow-up was 7·8 months. Eight patients were clinically euthyroid 2 weeks after starting therapy. Serum thyroxine iodine and triiodothyronine fell by 35 % during this period, but radioiodine uptakes did not fall to normal until 6-8 weeks after lithium therapy started. There was a significant reduction in absolute iodine uptake over 6 months but no consistent change in plasma-inorganic-iodine concentration. Seven patients relapsed 1-4 weeks after stopping therapy. It is concluded that lithium rapidly reduces thyroid function in hyperthyroid patients and can maintain the euthyroid state for up to 6 months. Lithium therapy does not seem to affect the course of the disease. It is suggested that lithium could be used in place of iodides in the management of hyper-thyroidism in some cases.
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