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Abstract. Electroencephalography (EEG) and neuropsychological tests empirically shown to be sensitive to diffuse cerebral damage were performed in 26 patients 10 years after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism and in a control group with non-toxic goitre. In the hyperthyroid state 81% had abnormal EEG before treatment, and 10 years after treatment 68% still had abnormal EEG compared with 41% in the control group (P < 0.05). In 7 out of 11 neuropsychological tests the previously hyperthyroid patients showed significant impairment compared with the control group. Twenty-three per cent of the patients displayed marked to severe intellectual impairment, 31% moderate and 41% slight or no impairment compared with 0%, 31% and 69%, respectively, in the control group (P < 0.05). Four patients had been granted disability pension on the basis of the intellectual dysfunction. Signs of intellectual impairment indicating irreversible brain dysfunction after thyrotoxicosis thus seem to be a frequent, although hitherto not generally recognized, finding.

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