OBJECTIVE:β-adrenergic antagonists (β-blockers) are often used to attenuate the hyperadrenergic symptoms of Graves' disease (GD), including palpitation. Although β-blockers reduce the heart rate, cardiac output and oxygen consumption, no firm evidence exists regarding the effects of combined therapy with β-blockers and anti-thyroid drugs. The objective is to elucidate the effects of β-blockers on anti-thyroid drug therapy in GD. METHODS:Patients newly diagnosed with mild GD were randomly assigned to receive methimazole with or without β-blockers in a prospective multi-center survey. The heart rate and thyroid function were measured and the quality of life was assessed using original and SF-36 questionnaires at 0 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were enrolled in the study. Fourteen patients (one man, 13 women) were randomly assigned to the group treated with β-blockersand 14 patients (one man, 13 women) were randomly assigned to the group not treated with β-blockers. Although no significant differences in the improvement of thyroid function were observed between the two groups, the heart rates improved more significantly in the group treated with β-blockers. Specific symptoms, such as easy fatigability and shortness of breath, also improved more significantly with the β-blocker treatment. In addition, 'physical functioning' assessed with the SF-36 questionnaires significantly improved only in the group treated with β-blockers. CONCLUSION: Although β-blockers may not reinforce the effects of anti-thyroid drugs on thyroid function, at least during the course of one month, they are effective in reducing heart rates and ameliorating specific symptoms in patients with mild GD.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: β-adrenergic antagonists (β-blockers) are often used to attenuate the hyperadrenergic symptoms of Graves' disease (GD), including palpitation. Although β-blockers reduce the heart rate, cardiac output and oxygen consumption, no firm evidence exists regarding the effects of combined therapy with β-blockers and anti-thyroid drugs. The objective is to elucidate the effects of β-blockers on anti-thyroid drug therapy in GD. METHODS:Patients newly diagnosed with mild GD were randomly assigned to receive methimazole with or without β-blockers in a prospective multi-center survey. The heart rate and thyroid function were measured and the quality of life was assessed using original and SF-36 questionnaires at 0 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were enrolled in the study. Fourteen patients (one man, 13 women) were randomly assigned to the group treated with β-blockers and 14 patients (one man, 13 women) were randomly assigned to the group not treated with β-blockers. Although no significant differences in the improvement of thyroid function were observed between the two groups, the heart rates improved more significantly in the group treated with β-blockers. Specific symptoms, such as easy fatigability and shortness of breath, also improved more significantly with the β-blocker treatment. In addition, 'physical functioning' assessed with the SF-36 questionnaires significantly improved only in the group treated with β-blockers. CONCLUSION: Although β-blockers may not reinforce the effects of anti-thyroid drugs on thyroid function, at least during the course of one month, they are effective in reducing heart rates and ameliorating specific symptoms in patients with mild GD.
Authors: E A Troshina; E A Panfilova; M S Mikhina; I V Kim; E S Senyushkina; A A Glibka; B M Shifman; A A Larina; M S Sheremeta; M V Degtyarev; P O Rumyanstsev; N S Kuznetzov; G A Melnichenko; I I Dedov Journal: Probl Endokrinol (Mosk) Date: 2021-04-12
Authors: Ciri C Raguthu; Harini Gajjela; Iljena Kela; Chandra L Kakarala; Mohammad Hassan; Rishab Belavadi; Sri Vallabh Reddy Gudigopuram; Ibrahim Sange Journal: Cureus Date: 2022-01-13
Authors: Christiaan F Mooij; Timothy D Cheetham; Frederik A Verburg; Anja Eckstein; Simon H Pearce; Juliane Léger; A S Paul van Trotsenburg Journal: Eur Thyroid J Date: 2022-01-01