Graves' Disease in Children: An Update

Overview

Journal Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2023 May 8

PMID 37151843

Authors

Kotb Abbass Metwalley

Hekma Saad Farghaly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children. A common GD symptom is a goiter. The usual biochemical profile in children with GD is a decreased thyroid hormone stimulating hormone (TSH) level and high free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations. The presence of thyroid receptor antibodies (TRAb) is the most important specific immunological sign for diagnosing GD. The treatment choices for pediatric GD are anti-thyroid drugs (ATDs), radioiodine, and thyroidectomy, but the risks and benefits of each modality are different. Management recommendations include the first-line use of a prolonged course of ATDs for at least 3 years and potentially 5 years or more. Rituximab and Teprotumumab are new novel alternative medications for the treatment of adult patients with GD and Graves' orbitopathy respectively, but evidence of the efficacy and safety of these drugs in pediatric patients with GD is lacking.

Citing Articles

Effect of Antithyroid Drugs Treatment Duration on The Remission Rates of Graves' Disease in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Arm Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Li Y, Wang X, Shi W, Chen J, Song Y, Gong C Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2024; 102(2):196-204.

PMID: 39501471 PMC: 11694547. DOI: 10.1111/cen.15159.

Diagnosis of Graves' Disease and Methimazole-Induced Lupus Erythematosus in an Adolescent Male During the COVID-19 Era: A Case Report.

Kumar T, White A Cureus. 2024; 16(6):e62023.

PMID: 38989384 PMC: 11233457. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62023.

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