Antithyroid drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease

Most patients with Graves' disease are treated with antithyroid drugs at some point during their course. This article discusses antithyroid drug pharmacology and clinical indications. Factors that predict which patients are likely to have a drug-induced remission and which ones are not are reviewed. This should enable the physician to make a rational decision to avoid longterm therapy in patients who have little chance of spontaneous remission. The use of antithyroid drugs and other pharmacologic agents in patients with thyroid storm and in those who are to undergo surgery also is discussed briefly.