ROLE OF TSH MEASUREMENTS IN PREDICTING THE OUTCOME OF TREATMENT FOR GRAVES-DISEASE FOLLOWING DRUG-THERAPY

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels obtained one month after the cessation of anti-thyroid drug treatment were assessed retrospectively for possible use in predicting outcome in 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Graves' disease. Thirty-four patients remained in remission at the end of the follow-up period and 16 patients relapsed. Although a TSH level of <1.2 mU/l did not discriminate between the two groups, none of the 24 patients who had TSH levels of >1.2 mU/l relapsed during the follow-up period, making early discharge from the thyroid clinic possible for these patients.