[Short-term use of lithium carbonate in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis]

The examinations were performed on 3 groups of altogether 65 persons with thyreotoxicosis, the cause of which was either Basedow's disease or struma nodosa. The first group received metizol (thiamazol) in a daily dosage of 60 mg, the second group lithium carbonate (1.0 up to 1.5 g/a day), the third group metizol together with lithium carbonate. The groups were of the same value, concerning the degree of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The examinations showed that when lithium carbonate is used alone at the earliest a significant decrease of the serum T4 and T3 concentration as well as of the T3 binding index appears. After a treatment of seven days the therapeutic effects even up. Under the lithium therapy an essential improvement of the clinical findings was achieved. The combined therapy with lithium and metizol did not exhibit any advantages in this respect. The side-effects observed under the lithium therapy are no essential clinical problem.