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.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
