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DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1253420
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Medical Treatment of Hyperthyroidism: State of the Art
Publikationsverlauf
received 30.11.2009
first decision 21.01.2010
accepted 15.02.2010
Publikationsdatum:
21. Mai 2010 (online)

Abstract
Methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) are the main antithyroid drugs used for hyperthyroidism. They inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormone at various levels and are used as the primary treatment for hyperthyroidism or as a preparation before radioiodine therapy or thyroidectomy. MMI is the drug of choice because of its widespread availability, longer half-life and small number of severe side effects. Drugs of second choice are potassium perchlorate, beta blockers, iodine, lithium carbonate and glucocorticoids. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against human CD20, was recently proposed as a biological therapy for cases of Graves’ disease unresponsive to traditional drugs.
Key words
Hyperthyroidism - Graves' disease - Thionamides
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Correspondence
Prof. A. Fumarola
Dept. of Experimental Medicine
Sapienza Universitá di Roma
V. le Regina Elena, 324
00161 Rome
Italy
Telefon: + 39/06/4997 2094
Telefon: + 39/06/4997 2586
eMail: angela.fumarola@uniroma1.it
