THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DOSE OF METHIMAZOLE IN PATIENTS WITH GRAVES' DISEASE / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

The effects of different dose of methimazole (MMI) and different mode of drug administration were compared in patients with Graves' disease. 155 patients were divided into 5 groups at random group A 10 mg MMI 3 times daily, group B 30 mg once daily, group C 5 mg 3 times daily, group D 15 mg once daily, group E 10 mg daily. The durations to achieve euthyroidism were not significantly different in group A, B, C and D (3.9? 1.5, 3.8? 1.3, 4.1 ? 1 .6 4.1 ?1.7 weeks respectively), but in group E (7.8?2.1 weeks) it was apparently longer than in other groups. The rate of side-effects occurring in patients treated with 30 mg, 15 mg and 10 mg daily was 37.7%, 14.7% and 5.6% respectively. Intrathyroidal concentrations of MMI were measured by means of high-performance liquid chromalo-graphy in 25 patients who underwent thyroidectomy. There was no difference of MMI concentrations in thyroid glands between the patients treated with 15 mg/d (39.1 ?15.2 ?mol/kg) and those with 30 mg/d(42.4? 14.3 ?mol/kg), or between the patients receiving the same dose on divided daily dose and single daily dose. These data demonstrate that 15 mg MMI as a single daily dose is reasonable and effective for the treatment of hyperthyroidism.