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Management of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease: frequently asked questions and answers (if any)

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Abstract

Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in iodine-replete areas. Although progress has been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, no treatment targeting pathogenic mechanisms of the disease is presently available. Therapies for Graves’ hyperthyroidism are largely imperfect because they are bound to either a high rate of relapsing hyperthyroidism (antithyroid drugs) or lifelong hypothyroidism (radioiodine treatment or thyroidectomy). Aim of the present article is to offer a practical guidance to the reader by providing evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions in clinical practice.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, University, and Research (MIUR, Rome) to Luigi Bartalena, Luca Chiovato, and Paolo Vitti (PRIN n. 2012Z3F7HE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, ASST dei Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo, University of Insubria, Viale Borri, 57, Varese, Italy

    L. Bartalena

  2. Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    L. Chiovato

  3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    P. Vitti

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  1. L. Bartalena
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  2. L. Chiovato
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  3. P. Vitti
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Correspondence to L. Bartalena.

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Bartalena, L., Chiovato, L. & Vitti, P. Management of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease: frequently asked questions and answers (if any). J Endocrinol Invest 39, 1105–1114 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0505-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0505-x

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