Comprehensive evaluation of ~(131)I and antithyroid drugs to treat the Graves disease with a thyroid enlargement below grade-II

Objective To comprehensively mark the treatment of Graves'disease patients whose thyroid glands weighed less than40g,with 131 I and antithyroid drugs(ATD);and to quantitatively assess their advantages and disad-vantages.Methods To the two therapeutic methods by which Graves disease was cured,point zero(0)be given;those getting better gave point1;those remaining unchanged gave point2.After treatment the patients demonstrating exoph-thalmos or more severe ophthalmopathy,hyperthyroid heart disease,hepatic injury,and leukopenia marked point2;those showing temporary hypothyroidism and permanent hypothyroidism marked points1,2,respectively.Those who had a re-lapse after being cured,marked point2.Both individual marks and total marks were compared.Results The total mark of group treated with 131 I was390,with an average1.29;the total mark of group treated with ATD was517,with an aver-age2.19;the difference between the two groups was significant.No significant difference in the incidence of exophthal-mos and its relief existed between the two therapeutic methods.The patients treated with 131 I suffered hypothyroidism more often than those treated with ATD,but they had less hyperthyroidism relapse than those cured with ATD.The 131 I therapy of Graves'disease(with a thyroid enlargement below grade-Ⅱ)induced less hyperthyroid heart disease,hepatic injury,or leukopenia than the ATD therapy.Conclusion 131 I therapy excels the ATD in treating the Graves'disease pa-tients(with a thyroid enlargement below grade-Ⅱ).