Use of oral cholecystography agents in the treatment of hyperthyroidism of subacute thyroiditis.
In this study, we describe our experience in treating subacute thyroiditis patients with 2 OCAs (sodium ipodate and sodium iopanoate). We studied 10 consecutive patients with subacute thyroiditis treated with 1 of the 2 oral cholecystography agents (OCAs). Hyperthyroidism was controlled and symptoms improved markedly in each case without any evidence of subsequent relapse of thyroiditis after withdrawal of OCAs. Three of the 10 patients had been treated previously with corticosteroids and had demonstrated relapse of thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism after tapering or withdrawal of steroids. We observed no side effects of treatment with OCAs. Our data suggest that OCAs are effective and safe agents for management of hyperthyroidism in patients with subacute thyroiditis, even when they have relapsed after treatment with corticosteroids.