Drug therapy for Graves' disease in blacks--very low rates of remission

The rates of remission after a course of antithyroid drugs in 71 black and 45 white patients with Graves' disease were compared. One year after stopping therapy 27% of blacks and 47% of whites were in remission (P less than 0.01); at 2 years the proportions were 7% and 27% respectively (P less than 0.05). Small size of goitre only was a weak predictor of remission; duration of therapy did not influence the outcome. HLA A2 and B17 may be less frequent in black patients who remain in remission (P = 0.048 and 0.067 respectively). The data suggest that it is not worth while undertaking a trial of medical therapy in unselected black patients with Graves' disease.