• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1988

In Graves' disease, changes in orbital tissue and structure are casued by inflammatory infiltation, which induces increase of capillary permeability and breakdown of blood-tissue barriers. Using the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ in inflammatory lesion, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratios in brain scintigraphy were evaluated in 15 normal controls and 40 Graves' patients. The results were as follows; 1) Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio was significantly higher in Graves' ophthalmopthy group than in control group (p < 0.005). 2) In Graves' ophthalmopathy, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio was significantly higher in active (progressive) group than in inactive (non-progressive) group (p < 0.05). 3) There was no correlation between class of ATA classification of Graves' ophthalmopathy and Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio. 4) There was no correlation between Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio and serum activity of TBII. In conclusion, Eye/Brain radioactivity ratio using $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ brain scintigraphy may be useful to determine the activity of Graves' ophthalmopathy and whether treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy is necessary or not.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.653-663
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• 2006

Objective : Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune disorder associated with autoantibodies to the TSH receptor. The clinical features of Graves' disease are goiter and hypermetabolic symptoms induced by excessive hormones. Antithyroid drug therapy is the first-line treatment for Graves' disease in Korea, Japan and European countries. Yet in spite of a long period and high-dose of treatment, it is hard to achieve remission because of adverse effects, frequent recurrence and resistance to antithyroid drugs. Recently, it has been reported that the abnormal thyroid hormone and clinical symptoms of Graves' disease were reduced by Ahnjeonbaekho-tang (AJBHT). Methods : To investigate the effectiveness and action mechanism of AJBHT, we studied the influence of AJBHT on FRTL-5 thyroid cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and expression of T4, TSH, cAMP, Tg and TPO mRNA. Results : AJBHT significantly inhibited the FRTL-5 cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, T4 synthesis, cAMP production and the expression of Tg mRNA in comparison with control and MMI. Conclusions : These results suggest that AJBHT may inhibit the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by regulating the cAMP, and suppress the T4 synthesis by modulating Tg mRNA expression and cAMP synthesis, and that it may be useful agent for treating the goiter and hormone abnormality of Graves' disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1988

Serum TBII measured by radioreceptor assay using $^{125}I-bovine$ TSH and porcine thyroid well membrane was checked before, 6 months and 12 months after initiation of thionamide regimens in 63 Graves' disease patients and was related with their remission state. 1) A significant difference (p < 0.01) in pre-treatment TBII was noted between the remitted [N = 45, TBII $40.9{\pm}18.2%$ $(mean{\pm}S.D)$] and the unremitted (N = 18, TBII $64.1{\pm}15.3%$) groups. 2) After 6 months of therapy, TBII were significantly decreased in both groups (to $20.2{\pm}10.3%$ and to $45.2{\pm}16.3%$, p<0.05 for each group) 3) At 12th month, TBII activities were not significantly decreased compared to the 6th month levels in both groups. 4) 3 of the 58 patients who were initially TBII positive (over 15%) converted negative. All the 3 belonged to the remitted group. 5) No significant differences were seen in initial and posttreatment TBII levels between propylthiouracil treated (N = 36) and methimazole treated (N = 27) cases. with above mentioned results, we observed that the TBII decreased significantly with 6 months of thionamide therapy and concluded that the pretreatment measurement of serum TBII may be clinically useful in predicting the response to thionamide regimen in the treatment of Graves' disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1021-1028
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• 2009

Purpose:Medical therapy is the initial treatment for children with Graves disease to avoid complications of other treatments. However, optimal treatment for childhood Graves disease is controversial because most patients require relatively long periods of medical therapy and relapse is common after medication discontinuation. Therefore, this study aimed to search clinical or biochemical characteristics that could be used as remission predictors in Graves disease. Methods:We retrospectively studied children diagnosed with Graves disease, treated with anti-thyroid agents, and observed for at least 3 years. Patients were categorized into remission and non-remission groups, and the groups were compared to determine the variables that were predictive of achieving remission. Results:Sixty-four patients were enrolled, of which 37 (57.8%) achieved remission and 27 (42.2%) could not achieve remission until the last visit. Normalization of thyroid-stimulating hormone-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) after treatment was faster in the remission group than in the non-remission group (remission group, $15.5{\pm}12.07$ vs. non-remission group, $41.69{\pm}35.70$ months). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests were performed in 28 patients. Only 2 (8.3%) of 26 patients who showed normal or hyper-response in TRH stimulation test relapsed. Binary logistic regression analysis identified rapid achievement of TBII normalization after treatment as a significant predictor of remission. Six percent of patients achieved remission within 3 years and 55.8% achieved it within 6 years. Conclusion:Rapid achievement of TBII normalization can be a predictor of remission in childhood Graves disease. The TRH stimulation test can be a predictor of maintenance of remission.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2002

Objectives: Three classic treatment modalities have been used to treat Graves' disease: antithyroid medication, radioiodine ablation, and subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative thyroid functions were studied in patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal thyroidectomy to evaluate the superiority of surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: One hundred fourty patients of Graves' disease were analysed retrospectively in follow-up for more than three years following subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative serum levels of $T_3,\;T_4, TSH, TSH-R Ab, free $T_4$, were evaluated to watch hypo- or hyperthyroidsm. Results: In the evaluation of preop- and postoperative thyroid function after three years of subtotal thyroidectomy, $T_3$ was changed from $464.10{\pm}196.16ng/dl$ to $140.41{\pm}76.56ng/dl$ in mean value, $T_4$ was changed from $20.76{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/dl$ to $9.54{\pm}4.02{\mu}g/dl$, $TSHT_3$ was changed from $0.55{\pm}4.42{\mu}u/ml$ to $4.96{\pm}7.20{\mu}u/ml$, TSH-R Ab was changed from $41.6{\pm}28.27%$ to $28.7{\pm}28.79%$ and free $T_4$ was changed from $4.45{\pm}2.33ng/dl$ to $1.44{\pm}0.69ng/dl$ in mean value. Euthyroidism was noted in 118 patients(84.3%), overt hyperthyroidism in 6 patiens(4.3%), latent hyperthyroidism in 8 patients(5.7%), overt hypothyroidism in 2 patint(1.4%), and latent hypothyroidism in 6 patients(4.3%). Of surgical complications, permanant hypoparathyroidism was found in one patient, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in two patients, postoprative bleeding with reoperation in two patients, and death in one patient. Conclusion: The thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is normal level (euthyroidism) in 84.3% and low recurrence rate of hyperthyroidism is showed with rare surgical complication. Therefore, subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is more effective and safe than RI or longterm ATD treatment, if the operation is performed by skillful surgeon.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1995

This study was retrospectively reviewed and analysis of postoperative local complication on all patient undergoing thyroid operation of 242 cases of thyroid disease, at Department of General Surgery, Chosun University Hospital from January 1988 to December 1992. The result were follow: Postoperative local complication are as follow; 52 cases of transient hypocalcemia, 7 cases of thansient hoarseness, 3 cases of permanent hypocalcemia, 2 cases of permanent hoarseness, and other local complication were postoperative bleeding with airway obstraction, hematoma, infection. In pathologic classification according to complicative patients; The most common frequency of complication in benign disease was Graves' disease with 13 cases(54.2%), and the most frequency of complication in malignance disease was follicalar adenocarcinoma with 7 cases(53.9%). The frequency of complication according to operation procedure were unilateral lobectomy in 31 cases(19.9%), subtotal thyroidectomy in 15 cases(39.5%), near total thyroidectomy in 12 cases (44.4%), and total thyroidectomy in 10 cases(55.6%). There was a significant relationship between extent of operative procedure and frequency of complication. The incidence of local complication after thyroid resection was 57 of 196(29.1%) in the benign disease that was 15 of 26(57.7 %) in the intrathyroidal carcinoma and 13 of 20(65.0%) in the extrathyroidal carcinoma. There was significant different in frequency of local complication according to invasion and malignance of pathologic lesion. The most frequent complication after thyroid resection is transient hypocalcemia ; 39 of 196(19.9%) in the benign disease, 7 of 26(26.9%) in the intrathyroida1 carcinoma, and 6 of 10(30.0%) in the extrathyroidal carcinoma. Their complication rate increased in direct relationship to the invasion and malignance of pathologic lesion, but there was no statistically significant. Transient hypocalcemia was encountered in 52 cases of the total 242 patient(21.9%) ; 29 of 156(18.6%) after unilateral lobectomy, 9 of 38(23.7%) after subtotal thyroidectomy, and 5 of 18(27.8 %) after total thyroidectomy. The relation ship between temporal hypocalcemia and the extent of surgery was not statistically significant.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1995

Traditionally, wound drainage after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent airway obstruction due to accumulation of hematoma or seroma within the paratracheal dead space. Recently, however, the routine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has become a matter of controversy. To determine whether the rouine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery is warranted, a prospective study on the complications after various types of thyroid or parathyroid surgery without wound drains was conducted. Three hunded sixty-six consecutive patients underwent thyroid or parathyorid surgeries by one surgeon from January through December 1994 were included in this study. Of these, only 38 patients (10.4%) required the wound drains. Indications for drainage included the patients with a large dead space(n=9) or wet operative field at the conclusion of surgery(n=11), and patients with radical neck disection(n=18). In the remaining 328 patients(89.6%), the wounds were closed without drains after thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy(n=226), bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy(n=21), total or near-total thyroidectomy(n=62), isthmusectomy(n=9) and parathyroid surgery(n=l0). Histologic findings revealed benign tumors in 214(65.2%), carcinoma in 89(27.1%), Graves' disease in 15(4.7%), hyperparathyroidism in 7(2.1%) and parathyroid cyst in 3(0.9%). Among the 328 patients without drain used, wound related complications were seen in only 15 patients(4.6%); 12 patients with seroma and 3 patients with hematoma. All but one complications could be controlled by two or three aspirations, and the remaining one patient required re-exploration. There were no instances of laryngeal nerve palsy or wound infection. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 2.8 days with a range of 1 to 11 days. These results support the routine use of drains is not warranted in most thyroid or parathyroid surgeries.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.203-213
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the symptomatic relief effect of a herbal prescription combined with methimazole for hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease. Methods : After diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, methimazole was initially administered alone. As the clinical symptoms continued, a herbal medicine combining Gamiondam-tang and Cheongsimyeonja-eum was administered together with methimazole. Blood concentrations of hormones were measured, and the degree of clinical symptoms was measured using the NRS scale. The effect of herbal medicine on heat intolerance was analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test, and the relationship between thyroid hormone and heat intolerance was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results : Heat intolerance symptoms were significantly reduced when the herbal prescription was administered in parallel than when methimazole was administered alone (w=296, p=0.001). The decrease in heat intolerance was not related to thyroid hormone levels (p=0.27, 0.37). Conclusions : It was found that the herbal medicine combining Gamiondam-tang and Cheongsimyeonja-eum was effective in treating hyperthyroidism symptoms including heat intolerance.