Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

2018 European thyroid association guideline for the management of graves' hyperthyroidism

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Simon PearceORCiD

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

© 2018 European Thyroid Association Published by S. Karger AG, Basel. Graves' disease (GD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the infiltration of thyroid antigen-specific T cells into thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R)-expressing tissues. Stimulatory autoantibodies (Ab) in GD activate the TSH-R leading to thyroid hyperplasia and unregulated thyroid hormone production and secretion. Diagnosis of GD is straightforward in a patient with biochemically confirmed thyrotoxicosis, positive TSH-R-Ab, a hypervascular and hypoechoic thyroid gland (ultrasound), and associated orbitopathy. In GD, measurement of TSH-R-Ab is recommended for an accurate diagnosis/differential diagnosis, prior to stopping antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment and during pregnancy. Graves' hyperthyroidism is treated by decreasing thyroid hormone synthesis with the use of ATD, or by reducing the amount of thyroid tissue with radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment or total thyroidectomy. Patients with newly diagnosed Graves' hyperthyroidism are usually medically treated for 12-18 months with methimazole (MMI) as the preferred drug. In children with GD, a 24- to 36-month course of MMI is recommended. Patients with persistently high TSH-R-Ab at 12-18 months can continue MMI treatment, repeating the TSH-R-Ab measurement after an additional 12 months, or opt for therapy with RAI or thyroidectomy. Women treated with MMI should be switched to propylthiouracil when planning pregnancy and during the first trimester of pregnancy. If a patient relapses after completing a course of ATD, definitive treatment is recommended; however, continued long-term low-dose MMI can be considered. Thyroidectomy should be performed by an experienced high-volume thyroid surgeon. RAI is contraindicated in Graves' patients with active/severe orbitopathy, and steroid prophylaxis is warranted in Graves' patients with mild/active orbitopathy receiving RAI.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Kahaly GJ, Bartalena L, Hegedus L, Leenhardt L, Poppe K, Pearce SH

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: European Thyroid Journal

Year: 2018

Volume: 7

Issue: 4

Pages: 167-186

Print publication date: 01/08/2018

Online publication date: 25/07/2018

Acceptance date: 24/05/2018

ISSN (print): 2235-0640

ISSN (electronic): 2235-0802

Publisher: S. Karger AG

URL: https://doi.org/10.1159/000490384

DOI: 10.1159/000490384


Share