An Analysis for Aggravation of Thyroid Function After Discontinuing Potassium Iodine in Graves’ Patients Treated With Methimazole and Potassium Iodine

Abstract

Background: The efficacy of methimazole (MMI) combined with potassium iodine (KI) therapy as an initial treatment of Graves' disease (GD) is reported in an area of excessive iodine intake. However, transient aggravation of thyroid function after cessation of KI is often observed. Therefore, we evaluated the factors related with transient aggravation after cessation of KI in GD patients treated with MMI and KI therapy.