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- Title
The Treatment of Graves' Disease in Children.
- Authors
Rivkees, Scott A.
- Abstract
Graves' disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism in childhood. Current treatment options include antithyroid medications, surgery, and radioactive iodine. Medical therapy is generally associated with long-term remission rates of less than 25% and a small risk of serious adverse reactions that include hepatic failure and bone marrow suppression. Total thyroidectomy is associated with very high cure rates and a small risk of hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. When radioactive iodine is used at appropriate doses, there is a very high cure rate without increased risks of thyroid cancer or genetic damage. Clinicians caring for the child or adolescent with Graves' disease are thus faced with using medications with potential shortterm and long-term toxicity, for a condition in which spontaneous remission occurs in the minority of pediatric patients. Definitive therapy in the form of surgery or radioactive iodine is necessary and unavoidable for the majority of pediatric patients with Graves' disease.
- Publication
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006, Vol 19, Issue 9, p1095
- ISSN
0334-018X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1515/jpem.2006.19.9.1095