[Critical study of the treatment of Grave's disease (author's transl)]

202 cases of Grave's disease were reviewed; among the 81 patients submitted to medical treatment, 53,1 p. 100 of patients failed to respond; 10 p. 100 relapsed and 35,9 p. 100 are euthyroid. The factors favouring a treatment failure were: age below thirty, severity of thyrotoxicosis, big enlargement of thyroid gland, duration of treatment shorter than 12 months. Relapses are more frequent after two years of medical treatment. Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 82 patients: 9,5 p. 100 relapsed, permanent hypothyroidism developed in 30,5 p. 100 and 50 p. 100 were euthyroid. The factors favouring post-operative hypothyroidism are estimated weight of the thyroid remnant, the moderate size of goiter and perhaps a six to twelve months preoperative medical treatment. 39 patients had I 131 therapy: among them, 24 p. 100 relapsed, 25,7 p. 100 had permanent hypothyroidism and 50,3 p. 100 are euthyroid.