The use of lithium carbonate in the preparation for definitive therapy in hyperthyroid patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to elucidate the effectiveness of lithium carbonate prior to thyroidectomy or radioiodide therapy in patients with thyrotoxicosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Lithium carbonate was used as preoperative preparation or radioiodide therapy in 5 patients with Graves' disease and in 1 patient with toxic multinodular goiter because of side effects of thionamide in 5 patients and ineffectiveness of antithyroid medication in the remaining patient. RESULTS All 6 patients had a benign course following treatment without thyroid storm. No adverse effects or complications of lithium carbonate were observed. CONCLUSION This report shows that lithium carbonate can be safely used preoperatively or prior to radioiodide therapy in circumstances where antithyroid medications are contraindicated and are ineffective in obtaining an euthyroid status.