Role of TSH measurements in predicting the outcome of treatment for Graves' disease following drug therapy.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels obtained one month after the cessation of anti-thyroid drug treatment were assessed retrospectively for possible use in predicting outcome in 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Graves' disease. Thirty-four patients remained in remission at the end of the follow-up period and 16 patients relapsed. Although a TSH level of < 1.2 mU/1 did not discriminate between the two groups, none of the 24 patients who had TSH levels of > 1.2 mU/1 relapsed during the follow-up period, making early discharge from the thyroid clinic possible for these patients.