Relapse and exacerbation of Graves' disease during pregnancy is rare, and thionamide induced agranulocytosis is an uncommon side effect. We report a case of a pregnant woman in her 24th week of gestation that experienced a relapse of Graves' disease that was complicated by propylthiouracil induced agranulocytosis. Following the discontinuation of propylthiouracil and administration of a broad-spectrum of antibiotics, agranulocytosis subsided within 10 days. A total thyroidectomy to avoid any future relapse was planned and a short course of a beta-adrenergic blocker and Lugol solution were prescribed before the operation. At the 28th week of gestation, a total thyroidectomy was performed without complications and thyroxine replacement therapy was commenced. At the 40th week of gestation, labor was induced and a 3, 370 g healthy male infant was born without clinical features of thyrotoxicosis. We report herein on the patient and the treatment options for this rare and complicated case.
Thyroidectomy ; Recurrence ; Propylthiouracil/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Pregnancy Complications/*therapy ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Graves Disease/*complications/*therapy ; Female ; Antithyroid Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Agranulocytosis/chemically induced/*complications ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of combined therapy of modified Kangjia Recipe (KR) and western medicine propylthiouracil (PTU) on hyperthyroidism and to assess its advantage.

METHODSNinety patients with hyperthyroidism were divided into the treatment group (TG) and the control group (CG). The 60 patients in TG treated with KR and PTU, and the 30 patients in CG treated with PTU alone. The treatment course of both groups was 3 months. The serum thyroid hormone (TH) level, clinical symptoms and signs, and adverse reaction were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe serum TH level, clinical symptoms and signs were significantly improved after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 93.3% in TG, which was higher than that in CG (83.3%, P < 0.01); and the efficacy in improving palpitation, fidget, aversion to heat, sweating and insomnia was better in the TG than that in the CG respectively (P < 0.05). As for the incidence of adverse reaction, it that was lower in the TG than in the CG.

CONCLUSIONKD has good efficacy in treating hyperthyroidism, and the combined treatment of Chinese and Western medicine shows obvious advantages.

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Propylthiouracil ; administration & dosage

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antithyroid Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graves Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Iodides ; urine ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propylthiouracil ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antithyroid Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; pathology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; complications ; drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Methimazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Propylthiouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Young Adult