Clinical Observation of Long-term Treatment of Methimazole for Hyperthyroidism

Objective To explore the efficacy and safey of long-term use of imidazole for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Methods 68 cases of patients with hyperthyriodism were analyzed retrospectively. 34 cases accepted long-term methimazole treatment voluntarily were called observation group and given oral methimazole in a treatment dose which changed into a maintenance dose after symptoms relief. While the other 34 cases patients given oral methimazole in a treatment dose and stoped drug after symptoms relief were called the control group. All patients were completed three years treatment and follow-up, and the treatment efficacy and safety were evaluated according to the clinical efficient, thyroid function, immune status improvement and adverse reaction. Results The observation group had more curative effect with a higher effciency and better thyroid function after the treatment(P0.05), and the hyperthyroidism clinical recurrence rate in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (P0.05). During the 3 years period of observation, there were 5 cases of granulocytopenia and 1 case of drug rash in the observation group, while the corresponding control ratio in the control group were 3 cases and 2 cases, and all the untoward effects could eased in three weeks spontaneously without other obvious adverse reaction. Conclusion Long-term use of oral methimazole can significantly improve the thyroid function in patients with hyperthyroidism thyroid function, and has no obvious side effects, which is safe and reliable in clinic.