RESUMO
The Graves's Disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism. Currently, there is a lack of consensus with respect to the therapeutical role played by synthetic antithyroids, radioactive iodine and surgery. In order to study in depth this issue, we have analyzed the results of the therapy administered to 217 patients with Graves's Disease: 96 were treated with synthetical anti-thyroids, 46 with surgery and 75 with radioactive iodine. After twelve months of therapy with synthetic antithyroids, remission of the disease was observed in 64 patients (67%); the only factor predicting such remission was the absence of ophthalmopathy (p < 0.05); all 64 patients were followed-up during 12 months, detecting the recurrence of hyperthyroidism in 33 of them. Such recurrence is predicted by the serum levels of thyroid hormones before the administration of the therapy (p < 0.001). On the contrary, in patients treated with surgery or radioactive iodine, hyperthyroidism was controlled in 91% and 100% of them, respectively. Given the evolution of patients with Graves's Disease treated with synthetic antithyroids, we suggest the use of a more aggressive approach for the management of these patients.
