The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-04
Your Health
Goitre Treatment
With Thiouracil
Deemed Safer
Nv II \ H-NrEsEN NJ .

Rv q y HINpESES, NJ. .
SOME time ago we wrote in these
columns Of the advantages Of q
new treatment for toxic goitre US
ing q drug known as thiouraeil.
Readers will remember we stated
at that time that in toxic goitre
there is an excessive secretion OF
thyroid extract by the thyroid
gland, which is located in the front
part Of the neck. This extra seere-
ton produces such symptoms as
loss Of weight and strength, rapid
heart beat, increased Swesting,
diarrhea, tremor and in some in
stances when the condition has
been present for some time) pro-
trusion OF the eyes known as ex-
ophthalmus.
Just what causes toxic goitre has
not as yet been determined. The
condition is a serious one and II
allowed 20 persist, may result IN
permanent damage 10 the heart,
nervous system and other parts OF
the body.
Until recent times, surgical re-
movAl Of most Of the thyroid gland
was accepted as the best treatment
for toxic goitre. In certain in
stances. X-ray and radiun have
been employed, and in milder cases
the giving Of iodine, together with
complete rest and the use of vari-
Gus sedative or nerve-quieting
drugs was somewhat successful.
Some patients treated with
iodine and rest do seem to improve
to such an extent that operation
is not required. In other words. the
disease seems TO just get better.
On the other hand, many patients
treated in this way for too long
time suffer SUCH extensive damage
TO the tissues that they succumb 20
infections or become mental or
physical wrecks.
The thiouracil treatmeht now
seems to be well established. 1t is
not known exactly how the drug
works. However, it would appear
probable that it prevents the union
OF a substance known as tyrosine
an amino acid which comes from
protein foods, and iodine, which is
necessary in the formation Of thy
roxin. Previously we have told our
readers that thyroxin is the active
substance in the secretion formed
by the thyroid gland under normal
conditions.
GcsiAP .ASasSS, 4 &Na.=1y -
Birmingham, England, reports the
results in the treatment Of twenty
seven patients with toxic goitre,
using thiouracil. The treatment
was carried out for periods vary
ing from three weeks to twelve
months. Good results were OBJ
tanned in all instances but one,
and in this patient the disease had
been present for years before
treatment with the thiouraeil was
started.
Doctor Nussey thinks that all
patients suffering from toxic goi-
tire should be treated with Thou
rscil. II is administered three
times a day for the first three TO
five weeks, after which time the
dose is gradually reduced, and is
kept at the lowest possible level 70
maintain the patients well-being.
II the patient does not respond
quickly to the treatment, the dose
of thiouracil should not be in
creased beyond a safe limit, The
patient must be kept under the
constant supervision Of the physi-
clan so that any reactions which
develop may be noted promptly,
and the dose Of the preparation re-
duced.
IL is Doctor Nussey's opinion
that treatment with thiouracil is
much safer than operation and
that perhaps treatment with this
drug may completely supplant
operation as the method of choice
in the treatment Of many cases OF
toxic goitre.