one more evaluation in spain

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In spain and other European countries, ATD is widely used though RAI

is gaining more ground than before, their information might be

helpful for who wants to achieve remission with ATD

Med Clin (Barc). 2002 Jun 1;118(20):777-8. Related Articles, Links

[Clinical evolution of a cohort of patients with Graves-Basedow

disease treated with metimazole]

[Article in Spanish]

De DA, Arconada A, Aller R, Cuellar LA, Terroba MC, Gil

J.

Seccion de Endocrinologia y Nutricion Clinica, Hospital del Rio

Hortega, Valladolid, Instituto de Endocrinologia y Nutricion

Clinica, Facultad de Medicina de Valladolid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Prospective studies of Graves-Basedow disease in Spain

are scarce. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical and

biochemical evolution of a cohort of patients with Graves-Basedow

disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 202 patients with Graves-Basedow

disease diagnosed between January 1997 and June 1999. RESULTS: 5.9%

of patients received 131I and 2.5% underwent surgery after treatment

with methimazole. A relapse was observed in 23.3% patients. In the

survival analysis, significant differences with regard to the rate

of relapse were observed according to the goitre degree.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, all patients reached remission with

methimazole. There was a high rate of relapse following

discontinuation of therapy within the first months. Goitre size at

the time of diagnosis was a significant determining factor of

relapse.