This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McCULLAGH, E. P. Articles by SIRRIDGE, W. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McCULLAGH, E. P. Articles by SIRRIDGE, W. T.

METHYLTHIOURACIL IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM^*

Cleveland Clinic and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute Cleveland, Ohio

METHYLTHIOURACIL has proved to be highly effective in the control of hyperthyroidism. First reported at a meeting of the Danish Society of Internal Medicine on May 21, 1944 (1), many accounts of its use have been published since in Denmark, Sweden, England and Australia. The largest series of cases studied were those of Meulengracht, et al.(2,3), Magnusson and Soerensen(1), and Frisk(4). One article on the Danish work has appeared in the American literature (5).

Danish reports indicated that the drug retained its high efficacy when the doses were decreased from the huge amounts originally prescribed to quantities approximating those effective for propylthiouracil. This evidence suggested that a dose of methylthiouracil might be established which would be as small as that of propylthiouracil and, at the same time, more effective.

In December, 1946, after having used propylthiouracil in the treatment of more than 300 patients with hyperthyroidism we wished to compare this experience with that obtained in the use of methylthiouracil. In the majority of patients propylthiouracil had been effective in doses of 200 to 300 mg. per day. For comparison, similar doses of methylthiouracil were given. Up to April 15, 1948, 100 patients with hyperthyroidism have been treated with methylthiouracil.

^* Read before the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Goiter, Toronto, Canada, May 7, 1948.

This article will be included in the bound volume of the "Transactions of the American Goiter Association," published by Charles C Thomas, Publisher, which will be available for sale early in 1949.

Received June 3, 1948.