MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS – TEN YEARS EXPERIENCE

Background. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyrosis in children and adolescents. The optimal treatment for children with AH remains controversial. The patients are usually treated with antithyroid drugs in combination with thyroxine, followed by definitive treatment with either surgery or radio-iodine if stable remission with antithyroid drug can not be achieved.Patients and methods. Between 1991 and 2000, 45 children (41 girls) from 0.5 to 17.5 years were treated at the University Childrens Hospital Ljubljana.Results and conclusions. Fourteen (31.1%) patients achieved long-term remission with antithyroid drugs alone. 12 (26.7%) of children needed further therapy. Surgery was carried out in 6 (50%), ablation therapy with J131 was successfully used in other six patients.