Differences and Similarities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Graves' Disease in Europe, Japan, and The United States

TLDR

The study aimed to assess how expert thyroidologists in the US, Europe, and Japan use diagnostic tests and choose among radioiodine, antithyroid drugs, and surgery for Graves' disease. Three surveys of ATA, ETA, and JTA members were conducted via questionnaire to capture their management practices. ATA clinicians used fewer diagnostic tests and favored radioiodine (69%) over antithyroid drugs (30.5%), whereas European and Japanese clinicians preferred antithyroid drugs (77% and 88%) and used more tests; all groups agreed that thyroidectomy is rarely indicated.

Abstract

In three separate studies, members of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), the European Thyroid Association (ETA), and the Japan Thyroid Association (JTA) were surveyed by questionnaire on their management of Graves' disease. The aim was to determine how expert clinical thyroidologists employ diagnostic procedures and the three different therapies that are available for this disorder. In this report, we identify, summarize, compare, and contrast similarities and differences in the results of these surveys in these three different regions of the world. In general, ATA members used fewer diagnostic tests than did their European or Japanese colleagues. For the index patient, radioiodine was the therapy of choice for 69% of ATA respondents but only 22% and 11% of ETA and JTA respondents, respectively. In contrast, only 30.5% of ATA respondents chose antithyroid drugs as first-line therapy compared to 77% of ETA and 88% of JTA respondents. There was consensus on the relative lack of a role for thyroidectomy except for narrow indications. The implications of these differing approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease are discussed.