Clinical aspects and treatment of juvenile Graves' disease

Thyrotoxicosis in childhood and adolescence is a rare disease most frequently due to Graves' disease, but non-autoimmune adenomatous goiters are also found. A strong correlation to HLA class II DRB1*0301 and a protective role of DRB1*0701 has been established in juvenile Graves' disease. The natural course of the disease seem to be remission in many, if enough observation time is allowed. Apart from goiter size and the severity of disease at onset, no certain prognostic factors has yet been identified. The treatment modality chosen is not evidence based, but rather tradition, personal experience and pragmatic handling of cases. Prospective, multicenter studies are still in need to answer the questions asked to ensure rational guidelines and consensus. Such studies should also address the essential problem of compliance, one of the important issues in longterm medical treatment.