Clinical Study of Graves' Disease in Children: Remission and Relapse

Song, Moon Young; Cho, Bin; Lee, Byung Churl

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was carried out to evaluate the age and sex distribution, clinical manifestation, presence of the antithyroid antibody, the clinical outcome following antithyroid drug treatment in children with Graves' disease.
METHODS
A total 45 children with Graves' disease were entered into the study. Diagnosis was based on clinical manifestation, elevated thyroid function and increased homogeneous 99mTc thyroid uptake on thyroid scan. All patient were treated with prophylthiouracil or methimazole, and assessed concerning about clinical symptoms and signs, existence of antithyroid antibody and states of thyroid function and outcome following antithyroid drug treatment during 3 years of therapy. Remission was defined as a euthyroid state without clinical manifestation and presence of TRAb, while relapse was defined as the recurrence of hyperthyroidism within 12 months of no medication after antithyroid therapy at least for 3 years.
RESULTS
1) The most prevalent age group was 10 to 15 years(82.8%) and female is more prevalent than male(M : F=1 : 14). 2) Goiter, emotional instability, hyperactivity, palpitation, sweating and exophthalmos are the most common symptoms in orders.3) The detection rate of TRAb, AMA and ATA before treatment were 93.3%, 86.7% and 62.2% respectively. 4) The euthyroid state showed in 36(80.0%) of 45 patients within 8 weeks after treatment. 5) The TRAb values remained positive in 27(60.0%) of 45 patients during the first 1 year of antithyroid therapy. 6) Remission rate was 58.8%(26 cases) and relapse rate of remission cases 73.1%.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that children with Graves' disease will continue to require long term clinical and laboratory assessment after discontinuation of antithyroid drug therapy.