J. Endocrinol. Invest. 15: 797-800,1992

Recurrence of hyperthyroidism in multinodular goiter after longterm drug therapy: Acomparison with Graves' disease M.J.M. van Soestbergen, J.C.M. van der Vijver, and A.D. Graafland Department of Internal Medicine, Municipal Hospital leyenburg, leyweg 275, 2545 CH The Hague, The Netherlands ABSTRACT. The chance of permanent remission after prolonged drug therapy was investigated in 41 patients with toxie multinodular goiter. For purposes of eomparison a group of 41 patients with Graves' disease was also studied. After euthyroidism was aehieved all patients reeeived a eombination of thionamide and thyroxine for at least 12 months. The min-

imum follow-up period was 2 yr. Relapse of thyrotoxieosis oeeurred in 95.1 % of patients wfth toxie multinodular goiter and 34.1 % of patients with Graves' disease (p16

95.1

798

34.1

Recurrence of hyperthyroidism in multinodular goder

W

~

Z W Ü

a: W a..

Hashizume, concerning the group of patients treated only one year with combined treatment. After two years of follow-up the relapse rate of 95.1 % for our group of patients with toxic multinodular goiter contrasts unfavourably with the rate of 34.1 % for our Graves' disease patients (chi square, p