Side effects of the antithyroid medications include a potentially fatal reduction in the level of white blood cells. Therapy with radioiodine is the most common treatment in the United States, while antithyroid drugs and/or thyroidectomy are used more often in Europe, Japan, and most of the rest of the world. β-Blockers (such as propranolol) may be used to inhibit the sympathetic nervous system symptoms of tachycardia and nausea until antithyroid treatments start to take effect. Pure β-blockers do not inhibit lid retraction in the eyes, which is mediated by alpha adrenergic receptors. Antithyroid drugs
The main antithyroid drugs are carbimazole (in the UK), methimazole (in the US), and propylthiouracil/PTU. These drugs block the binding of iodine and coupling of iodotyrosines. The most dangerous side effect is agranulocytosis (1/250, more in PTU). Others include granulocytopenia (dose-dependent, which improves on cessation of the drug) and aplastic anemia. Patients on these medications should see a doctor if they develop sore throat or fever. The most common side effects are rash and peripheral neuritis. These drugs also cross the placenta and are secreted in breast milk. Lugols iodine may be used to block hormone synthesis before surgery.A randomized control trial testing single-dose treatment for Graves found methimazole achieved euthyroid state more effectively after 12 weeks than did propylthyouracil (77.1% on methimazole 15 mg vs 19.4% in the propylthiouracil 150 mg groups).No difference in outcome was shown for adding thyroxine to antithyroid medication and continuing thyroxine versus placebo after antithyroid medication withdrawal.
Christina Rossetti, English Victorian-era poet
Dame Maggie Smith, British actress
Mary Webb, British novelist and poet
Wendy Williams, American TV show host
Act Yasukawa, Japanese Professional wrestler. Literature
In Italo Svevos novel Zenos Conscience, character Ada develops the disease. Ern Malley was an acclaimed Australian poet whose work was not published until after his death from Graves disease in 1943. However, Malleys existence and entire biography was actually later revealed to be a literary hoax. Research
Agents that act as antagonists at thyroid stimulating hormone receptors are currently under investigation as a possible treatment for Graves disease. References
External links
"Graves disease". Genetics Home Reference. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/?term=graves about graves on ncbi