Main treatments for graves’ disease

Graves’ disease, also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is caused by the body’s production of thyrotropic receptor antibodies, which leads to generalized systemic hypermetabolism manifested by hyperthermia, excessive sweating, hyperphagia and irritability. Generally, it can be treated by drugs, surgery and radioactive iodine therapy. 1. Drug therapy: Since drug therapy can bring most patients’ condition under control, anti-thyroid drug therapy, also known as ATD therapy, is preferred. Antithyroid drugs mainly inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormone to achieve the therapeutic purpose. Commonly used drugs include imidazole and propylthiouracil. In order to slow down the heart rate, you can also take drugs such as propranolol. 2. Surgery is mainly applicable to: goiter of degree III or above; recurrence after antithyroid drug treatment, and goiter of degree II or above; goiter that compresses the neighboring organs, resulting in symptoms of compression; suspected combination of thyroid cancer. The commonly used operation is subtotal thyroidectomy. 3. Radiation iodine 131 therapy: it can destroy most of the thyroid follicular epithelial cells, thus reducing the production of thyroid hormone and achieving the therapeutic purpose. It is mainly used for patients who cannot tolerate oral medication or have urgent need to control the symptoms of hyperthyroidism as soon as possible, or patients with hyperthyroidism heart disease and hyperthyroidism crisis. The treatment of this disease should follow the advice of a specialist, and regular review of thyroid function and other conditions.